Once your dog has nailed sit, drop, and stay, the real fun starts. Teaching fun tricks goes well beyond party tricks for your mates at the dog park. Trick training builds your dog’s confidence, keeps the brain ticking over on rainy afternoons, and gives you both something to work toward that doesn’t feel like homework. basic dog commands
The tricks below are suited to most dogs regardless of breed or age, and every one of them uses reward-based methods. You don’t need fancy equipment. A handful of diced chicken, a quiet room, and five minutes is enough to get started.
These 10 tricks go beyond basic obedience: spin, hand touch, bow, leg weave, crawl, speak and hush, back up, tidy up toys, find it, and roll over. Each one uses positive reinforcement, suits most breeds, and can be taught in short daily sessions of five to ten minutes. Start with whichever trick your dog gravitates toward and build from there.
Why Teach Your Dog Tricks?
Trick training isn’t just a novelty. Dogs that regularly learn new cues tend to be calmer at home because they’re getting the mental workout they need. A bored Kelpie chewing through the couch cushions is a dog that hasn’t been challenged enough between the ears. teaching leave it and drop it stopping leash pulling loose leash walking teaching recall teaching place command rewarding calm behavior
There’s a practical angle too. Hand targeting (trick #2 below) is one of the best tools for redirecting a reactive dog on a shared footpath. “Back up” can save you from being trampled at the front door. And “tidy up” means fewer squeaky toys underfoot at 11pm.
Dogs Australia (formerly ANKC) recognised Trick Dog as an official sport in January 2020, with titling levels from Starter through to Advanced. So if your dog takes to it, there’s a competitive pathway too.
Before You Start: Training Setup Tips
Keep sessions short. Five to ten minutes is the sweet spot. End while your dog is still keen, not when concentration has dropped off a cliff.
Use high-value rewards. Diced chicken, Zeal freeze-dried treats, a bit of cheese. Whatever makes your dog’s ears perk up. Kibble probably won’t cut it for something new and challenging.
Choose a quiet spot. Start inside, away from distractions. The backyard or local park comes later once the trick is solid.
Mark the moment. A clicker or a sharp “yes!” the instant your dog does the right thing makes a huge difference. Timing is everything.
1. Spin
Spin is a crowd-pleaser and one of the fastest tricks to teach. Most dogs pick it up in a single session.
How to teach it
- Lure with a treat. Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose and slowly move your hand in a wide circle. The dog’s head follows, and the body follows the head.
- Complete the circle. Once the dog has turned a full 360 degrees, mark with “yes!” and reward.
- Add the cue. After a few successful reps, say “spin” just before you start the hand motion. Phase out the lure over time, replacing it with a small circular hand gesture.
You can teach a spin in both directions. Some trainers use “spin” for one way and “twist” for the other, which makes for a good warm-up routine before a walk.
2. Touch (Hand Target)
This is one of the most useful tricks you’ll ever teach. Hand targeting means your dog bumps their nose to your open palm on cue. Trainers love it because it doubles as a recall tool and a way to redirect nervous dogs.
How to teach it
- Present your palm. Hold your flat hand about 10 centimetres from your dog’s nose. Most dogs will sniff it out of curiosity.
- Mark and reward. The instant the dog’s nose touches your palm, say “yes!” and deliver a treat from your other hand.
- Build distance. Gradually move your hand further away so the dog has to take a step or two to reach it. Add the verbal cue “touch” once the behaviour is reliable.
A Staffy named Biscuit at a Melbourne training class used to lose the plot every time another dog walked past. The trainer started using hand targeting to redirect Biscuit’s focus back to the handler. Within a few weeks, the nose-to-palm cue became Biscuit’s default when things got overwhelming.
3. Take a Bow
Your dog drops the front end down with the back end still in the air. Many dogs already do this naturally during play, so you’re really just putting it on cue.
How to teach it
- Start standing. Hold a treat at your dog’s nose level, then slowly lower it straight down toward the ground between the front paws.
- Catch the bow. The moment the elbows go down but the rear stays up, mark and reward. If the dog drops all the way into a down, you’ve moved the treat too far back. Try again and reward earlier.
- Add the cue. Say “bow” or “take a bow” just as the front end dips. Fade out the lure over several sessions.
Bow also doubles as a solid stretch before agility or a long hike, so it’s not just for show.
4. Weave Through Legs
This trick looks impressive and is a genuine coordination challenge for both dog and handler. The dog weaves in a figure-eight pattern between your legs as you walk.
How to teach it
- Start with one leg. Stand with your legs wide apart. Hold a treat behind your right leg and lure the dog through from front to back. Mark and reward once the dog passes through.
- Repeat on the other side. Once the dog is confidently going through one side, switch to the left leg using the same approach.
- Link the two together. Lure through the right leg, then immediately through the left. Add a cue like “weave” and begin to fade the treat lure, using an empty hand to guide instead.
Skip the lead for this one. You’ll trip. Practice off-lead in a safe, enclosed space.
5. Crawl (Army Crawl)
The dog moves forward on their belly without standing up. This one builds core strength and is a good rainy-day option when the backyard is a swamp.
How to teach it
- Start in a drop. Get your dog into a down position.
- Lure forward slowly. Hold a treat right at nose level and drag it along the floor away from the dog. The key is keeping the treat low enough that standing up doesn’t make sense.
- Reward small progress. Even a few centimetres of forward movement on the belly is worth marking. Build distance gradually over multiple sessions.
If your dog keeps popping up into a stand, try practising under a low coffee table or a broomstick balanced on two chairs. The physical barrier makes it easier for the dog to understand what you’re after.
6. Speak (and Hush)
Teaching your dog to bark on cue might sound like a terrible idea, but it’s actually one of the best ways to reduce nuisance barking. Once a dog understands “speak,” you can teach “hush,” which gives the dog a clear off-switch.
How to teach it
- Capture a natural bark. Wait for a moment when your dog barks naturally (doorbell, excitement at dinner time). The instant the bark happens, mark with “yes!” and reward.
- Add the cue. After several successful captures, start saying “speak” just before the trigger that typically makes the dog bark. Over time, the verbal cue alone will prompt the bark.
- Teach “hush.” Ask for a speak, then hold a treat near the dog’s nose. The dog will stop barking to sniff the treat. The moment the barking stops, say “hush,” mark and reward. Build the duration of quiet before rewarding.
This pair works especially well in apartments and townhouses where body corporate noise rules are a factor. A dog that understands “hush” is a much better neighbour.
7. Back Up
This trick teaches your dog to walk backward on cue. Handy for tight spaces, doorways, and any time the dog is crowding you in the kitchen while you’re cooking.
How to teach it
- Face your dog. Stand facing the dog in a standing position.
- Step into the dog’s space. Take a slow step forward. Most dogs will naturally shift backward to maintain the gap. The moment the dog takes even one step back, mark and reward.
- Add the cue. Once the dog is reliably stepping back, say “back up” before you step forward. Gradually phase out the forward step so the verbal cue alone does the job.
Practising in a hallway helps at first because the walls prevent the dog from turning sideways. A Golden Retriever named Lola at a Brisbane obedience class picked this up in two sessions once the trainer moved practice into the hallway.
8. Tidy Up (Put Toys Away)
This is the trick that makes non-dog-people genuinely impressed. The dog picks up toys and drops them into a basket or box. It takes patience, but the payoff is worth it.
How to teach it
- Teach “drop it” over the basket. Hold the basket under the dog’s mouth while the dog holds a toy. Cue “drop it.” When the toy lands in the basket, give a big reward. A jackpot of several treats makes the message clear.
- Lower the basket to the ground. Once the dog reliably drops the toy into the held basket, place it on the floor. Stand next to the basket and repeat the process.
- Add distance. Place toys a metre or two from the basket. Cue “tidy up” and reward each successful delivery. Gradually increase the number of toys.
This is a multi-step trick, so break it down and don’t rush. If your dog already knows “fetch” and “drop it,” you’re halfway there.
9. Find It (Hide and Seek)
Scent work is one of the most mentally tiring activities for a dog. A 10-minute find-it session can wear a dog out the way a 30-minute walk does. And you don’t even need to leave the house.
How to teach it
- Start easy. Let the dog watch you place a treat on the floor a metre away. Say “find it” and let the dog eat the treat.
- Increase difficulty. Hide treats behind chair legs, under a towel, or on a low shelf. Say “find it” and let the dog use their nose to locate the reward.
- Level up to toys or people. Once the dog understands the concept, hide a favourite toy or play a full round of hide and seek with a family member. Have someone hold the dog while you hide, then call the dog’s name once and wait.
During summer in Australia, when pavements are too hot for arvo walks, find-it games are a lifesaver for burning off energy indoors. Scatter feeding on the lawn in the early morning is another good option.
10. Roll Over
The classic. Roll over requires a bit of trust from the dog because they’re exposing the belly, so some dogs take longer to warm up to it. That’s fine. Work at the dog’s pace.
How to teach it
- Start in a down. Get the dog into a relaxed drop position.
- Lure to the side. Hold a treat near the dog’s nose and slowly move it toward the shoulder, so the head turns and the body shifts onto one side. Reward.
- Continue the arc. On the next rep, keep moving the treat in an arc over the dog’s back so the dog rolls onto the other side and back up to the starting position. Mark and give a big reward.
- Add the cue. Say “roll over” as you begin the lure motion. Fade the treat over time and use just the hand gesture.
Barrel-chested breeds like Bulldogs and Basset Hounds can find this one physically awkward. If your dog seems uncomfortable, skip it and move on to something else. There are plenty of tricks that don’t require rolling.
What If Your Dog Isn’t Getting It?
Slow down. The most common mistake is moving too fast through the steps. If your dog looks confused, go back to the last point where they were succeeding and build up again from there.
Check the reward. If your dog is losing interest mid-session, the treat might not be motivating enough. Switch from dry biscuits to something smelly and soft. Diced cooked chicken, small cubes of cheese, or Zeal freeze-dried liver treats tend to get results.
Also check the environment. A park full of distractions is the worst place to practise something new. Save outdoor practice for tricks that are already reliable indoors.
When to Get Professional Help
If your dog shows signs of stress during training (lip licking, yawning, turning away, or shutting down), stop the session and reassess. Some dogs need a slower approach, and a qualified reward-based trainer can help you adjust. Look for trainers who are members of the Pet Professional Guild Australia or accredited through Delta Society Australia. Your local vet can also point you in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to teach a dog a trick?
Simple tricks like spin or touch can be learned in one or two sessions. More complex tricks like tidy up or weave through legs may take a few weeks of short daily practice. Every dog learns at a different pace, and some breeds pick up new cues faster than others.
Can older dogs learn new tricks?
Yes. There’s no age limit on trick training. Senior dogs benefit from the mental stimulation, and softer tricks like touch, speak, and find it are gentle on ageing joints. Adjust the difficulty and session length to suit the dog’s energy level.
What treats work best for trick training?
Soft, smelly, pea-sized treats are best. Diced cooked chicken, small cheese cubes, or commercial training treats from brands like Zeal or Lyka work well. Avoid large crunchy treats that take too long to chew and break the flow of the session.
Are some breeds better at tricks than others?
Breeds like Border Collies, Poodles, and Australian Kelpies tend to pick up tricks quickly because they were bred for work that demands problem-solving. But any breed or mixed-breed dog can learn tricks with the right motivation and patience.
Do trick training sessions replace walks?
Not entirely. Trick training is a great supplement, especially on days when outdoor exercise isn’t possible (hot pavement, heavy rain, or recovery from surgery). But most dogs still need regular physical exercise alongside mental work.
Dogs Australia (ANKC), “Trick Dog” — https://dogsaustralia.org.au/training-dog-sports/trick-dog/ — Trick Dog titling levels, sport rules, and recognition as an official discipline since January 2020
American Kennel Club, “Advanced Dog Tricks You’ll Love to Teach Your Dog” — https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/advanced-dog-tricks/ — Step-by-step instructions for weave through legs, speak, and advanced lure techniques
American Kennel Club, “AKC Trick Dog: The Benefits of Trick Training” — https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/akc-trick-dog-the-benefits-of-trick-training/ — Mental and physical benefits of trick training for dogs and handlers
FOUR PAWS Australia, “Positive Dog Training” — https://www.four-paws.org.au/our-stories/publications-guides/positive-dog-training — Positive reinforcement training principles and recommendations
Dogs Victoria, “Trick Dog” — https://dogsvictoria.org.au/events/dog-activities/trick-dog/ — State-level Trick Dog competition details and titling pathway in Victoria