Easy Dog Tricks to Teach This Winter: 12 Fun Tricks With Step by Step Instructions
Easy Dog Tricks to Teach This Winter: 12 Fun Tricks With Step by Step Instructions
Winter is the perfect time to teach your dog a few new tricks. The days are short, the weather keeps you indoors and many dogs are bored and full of energy. Trick training uses up mental energy, builds confidence and makes your dog a star at family gatherings. It is also simply fun for both of you.
This guide walks dog moms and dads through 12 easy tricks you can teach at home, with simple step by step instructions for each, plus the basic training tips that make every trick easier. You do not need any special equipment, just treats, a quiet space and five minutes a day.
Tricks are not just for show. Many of them, like touch, back up and tidy up, are useful in everyday life too. And every training session strengthens the bond between you and your dog. Pick one trick to start and have fun.
Why teach your dog tricks?
Tricks tire the brain. Mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise for dogs. Ten minutes of training can tire many dogs as much as a walk, which is perfect for cold or stormy days when long walks are not possible. Our guide on brain games for dogs has even more ideas for mental exercise.
Tricks build confidence. Learning new things and getting rewarded for success helps shy or nervous dogs feel braver. Many trainers use tricks to help anxious dogs relax and focus in new places. It also gives you a great way to redirect your dog if they are worried.
Tricks strengthen your bond. Training is a conversation between you and your dog. They learn to watch you and listen, and you learn how they think and what motivates them. Many families find that trick training makes everyday manners easier too.
Tricks are fun for the whole family. Kids love teaching dogs tricks, and it is a great way to involve them safely in dog care. Our guide on kids and dogs over winter break has more family friendly activities.
What are the basics of trick training?
Use positive reinforcement. Reward your dog with something they love, such as small treats, a toy or praise, the moment they do what you want. Rewarded behaviors happen more often. Avoid punishment, which makes dogs worried and less willing to try new things.
Use tiny, tasty treats. Pick soft treats your dog loves and cut them into pea sized pieces so you can give lots without overfeeding. Count training treats as part of your dog's daily food. Some dogs work happily for part of their regular kibble.
Lure, then fade the lure. Many tricks start by guiding your dog into a position with a treat held near their nose, called a lure. Once your dog follows the lure easily, start using the same hand motion without a treat in it, then give the treat from your other hand. Over time, the hand motion becomes a hand signal.
Add the cue word last. Wait until your dog is doing the trick reliably before you add a word like spin or shake. Say the word just before you give the hand signal. Eventually your dog will respond to the word alone. This keeps the word linked to the right action.
How long should a trick training session be?
Keep it short. Most dogs learn best in short sessions of three to five minutes. Puppies and easily distracted dogs may do better with even shorter sessions of one to two minutes. You can do several sessions a day.
End on a win. Always finish with something your dog can do well, even if it is just a sit, so they end feeling successful. If your dog is getting frustrated or losing interest, make the trick easier and stop on a success.
Choose a quiet place. Start training in a calm room with few distractions. Once your dog knows the trick well, practice in new rooms, then the yard, then on walks. Each new place is a little harder, so make the trick easier at first.
Train when your dog is ready. Dogs learn best when they are alert but not overexcited. Try training before a meal, when your dog is a little hungry, or after a short walk. Avoid training when your dog is very tired or very wound up.
What are the easiest tricks to teach first?
Touch, or nose target. Hold your flat palm a few inches from your dog's nose. When they sniff or touch it, say yes and give a treat. Repeat several times, then move your hand to different spots. Add the word touch once your dog touches your hand every time. Touch is a great base for many other tricks and is useful for guiding your dog.
Spin. Hold a treat at your dog's nose and slowly move it in a wide circle to one side, so your dog follows it and turns all the way around. Give the treat when they complete the circle. Practice until they follow smoothly, then use the same motion without a treat. Add the word spin. Teach the other direction too, maybe with a different word like twirl.
Shake. Ask your dog to sit. Hold a treat in a closed fist near their chest at paw level. Many dogs will paw at your hand. The moment their paw lifts, say yes and give the treat. Gradually wait for the paw to lift higher, then open your hand so they place their paw in it. Add the word shake once they offer their paw reliably.
High five. Once your dog knows shake, hold your hand up with your palm facing your dog, a little higher than for shake. When they touch it with their paw, say yes and reward. Add the word high five. Some dogs learn this very quickly once they know shake.
How do I teach my dog to bow?
Start from a stand. With your dog standing, hold a treat at their nose, then slowly move it down toward the floor between their front paws and slightly toward their chest. Many dogs will lower their front end while keeping their back end up.
Reward the start of the bow. The moment your dog's elbows start to bend, say yes and give the treat. If they lie down completely, that is okay. Just start again and reward a little earlier next time, before their back end goes down.
Build up slowly. Over several sessions, reward only deeper bows. Some people gently place a hand under the dog's belly to help them keep their back end up at first, but never push or force your dog.
Add the cue and fade the lure. Once your dog bows easily, start using the same hand motion without a treat. Add a word like bow or take a bow. Many dogs naturally bow when they stretch or want to play, so you can also say yes and reward when you catch them doing it.
How do I teach my dog to roll over?
Start with a down. Ask your dog to lie down. Hold a treat at their nose, then move it toward their shoulder so they turn their head and shift onto one hip. Reward this first step.
Lure the roll. Continue moving the treat over their shoulder and toward their back, so they roll onto their side, then their back, then all the way over. Reward each small step at first, then only reward the full roll.
Be patient. Roll over is a little harder, and some dogs need many short sessions to learn it. Practice on a soft surface like a rug or blanket. Never force your dog to roll. Some dogs, especially those with back or hip problems, may find it uncomfortable.
Add the cue. Once your dog follows the lure all the way over, use the same circular motion without a treat. Add the word roll over. Over time, make the hand motion smaller so it becomes a simple signal.
How do I teach my dog to play dead?
Build on roll over. Play dead, sometimes called bang, starts the same way as roll over. Ask for a down, then lure your dog onto their side with a treat moved toward their shoulder.
Pause on the side. Instead of continuing the roll, stop when your dog is lying flat on their side. Say yes and reward while they are still lying there. Gradually ask them to stay on their side for a second or two before you reward.
Add the fun cue. Once your dog lies on their side easily, add a cue word like bang along with a finger gun hand signal. Practice the cue, wait a second, then reward. Many families love this trick for photos and parties.
Add drama later. Once your dog knows it well, you can build up to them flopping from a stand or sit. Keep sessions short and fun, and always reward generously when they get it.
Which tricks are useful in everyday life?
Back up. Stand facing your dog in a hallway or narrow space. Walk slowly toward them. When they take a step back, say yes and toss a treat behind them. Repeat, gradually asking for more steps. Add the word back. This is great for getting your dog out of doorways or the kitchen.
Find it. Show your dog a treat, say find it and toss it on the floor near them. Repeat a few times, then toss it farther. Then hide it while they wait and say find it. Sniffing is tiring and satisfying, and this trick can calm an anxious dog or keep them busy.
Go to your bed. Lure your dog onto their bed or blanket with a treat, reward them for stepping on, then for lying down on it. Add the cue go to bed. Gradually send them from farther away. This is very useful when guests visit or during meals. Our guide on holiday guests and your dog explains how to use it.
Leave it and drop it. These can keep your dog safe from things they should not eat. Our guide on what to do if your dog ate a sock explains why these cues matter so much, and our 30 day training plan teaches them step by step.
What tricks can I try next?
Through the legs. Stand with your legs apart. Hold a treat behind one leg and lure your dog through the gap. Reward when they come through. Practice until they go through easily, then try weaving in a figure eight. Add a cue like weave. This is a favorite with kids and audiences.
Ring a bell. Hang a bell at your dog's nose height, ideally by the door. Use the touch cue to get them to nose the bell, and reward. Once they ring it reliably, ring it before every potty trip. Many dogs learn to ring it when they want to go out. Our guide on winter potty training explains more.
Tidy up your toys. Teach your dog to pick up a toy, then to drop it into a basket. Start by rewarding them for dropping a toy over the basket, then build up to fetching toys and putting them away. This takes more time, but it is a very impressive trick.
Say your prayers. Ask your dog to sit in front of a low stool or your arm. Lure them to place their front paws on it, then lower their head between their paws with a treat. Reward this position, add a cue and practice. It looks adorable in holiday photos.
What if my dog is not getting the trick?
Break it into smaller steps. If your dog is stuck, the step may be too big. Reward smaller pieces, like a head turn for spin or a lifted paw for shake. Then build up again.
Check the reward. Is the treat good enough? Some dogs need higher value rewards, such as tiny pieces of chicken or cheese, to stay motivated, especially in distracting places.
Check your timing. Say yes or click at the exact moment your dog does the right thing, then reward. Late rewards can reward the wrong action. Some people use a clicker to mark the moment more clearly.
Take a break. If you or your dog are frustrated, stop and try again later or tomorrow. Dogs often seem to understand a trick better after a rest. Keep it fun and you will get there.
Can all dogs learn tricks?
Yes, at any age. Puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs can all learn tricks. Puppies have short attention spans, so keep sessions very short. Older dogs may take a little longer but often love the attention and mental challenge. Our guide on caring for a senior dog has more ideas for keeping older dogs sharp.
Choose tricks that suit your dog's body. Dogs with arthritis, back problems or joint issues may not be comfortable with roll over, bow or say your prayers. Choose gentle tricks like touch, find it and shake instead. Ask your vet if you are unsure.
Work with your dog's personality. Some dogs are motivated by food, some by toys and some by praise. Use what your dog loves most. Shy dogs may need quieter places and calmer praise.
Rescue dogs love tricks too. Trick training is a wonderful way to build trust with a newly adopted dog. Start with very easy tricks and lots of rewards. Our guide on bringing home a rescue dog has more tips for the early weeks.
How do I show off my dog's new tricks?
Practice in new places. Before you show off your dog's tricks, practice in different rooms, outside and with a few distractions. Each new place makes the trick harder, so reward generously.
Make a trick routine. Chain three or four tricks your dog knows well into a short routine. For example, spin, bow, high five and play dead. Dogs often love the predictable flow and the big reward at the end.
Capture it on camera. Tricks make great photos and videos. Our guide on holiday photos with your dog has tips for getting the perfect shot, from lighting to treats.
Keep it fun for your dog. Do not push your dog to perform when they are tired, stressed or overwhelmed by lots of people. Give them a quiet break if they need it. The best trick shows are short, happy and full of rewards.
- Start with easy tricks like touch, spin and shake.
- Use tiny, tasty treats and reward the moment they get it right.
- Keep sessions short, five minutes is plenty.
- Add the cue word later, once your dog does it reliably.
- Be patient and kind, and never force a position.
A winter of new tricks
Teaching your dog tricks is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to beat winter boredom. Start with simple tricks like touch, spin and shake, use tiny tasty treats, keep sessions short and add the cue word once your dog has the idea. Be patient, never force a position and always end on a win.
By spring, your dog could have a whole routine to show off. From all of us at Happy Yay, here is to clever dogs, proud dog parents and lots of happy training time together.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest trick to teach a dog?
Touch, where your dog touches your hand with their nose, is one of the easiest. Spin and shake are also great first tricks for most dogs.
How long does it take to teach a dog a trick?
Simple tricks can take a few days to a couple of weeks with short daily practice. Harder tricks like roll over or tidy up may take several weeks.
How often should I train my dog?
Short sessions of three to five minutes, once or twice a day, work well for most dogs. Puppies may do better with even shorter sessions.
Can old dogs learn new tricks?
Yes. Senior dogs can learn tricks and often enjoy the mental challenge. Choose gentle tricks that suit their body and keep sessions short.
Should I use a clicker for trick training?
A clicker can help mark the exact moment your dog does the right thing, but it is not required. A short word like yes works just as well.
What treats are best for training?
Use soft, tasty treats cut into pea sized pieces. Count them as part of your dog's daily food so they do not gain weight.
How do I teach my dog to shake?
Ask your dog to sit, hold a treat in a closed fist near their paw and reward the moment they lift their paw. Build up to them placing it in your open hand, then add the word shake.
How do I teach my dog to spin?
Lure your dog in a full circle with a treat at their nose and reward when they finish the turn. Fade the treat and add the word spin.
Why does my dog lose interest during training?
Sessions may be too long, the treats not exciting enough or the step too hard. Make it easier, use better treats and keep it short.
Is trick training good for anxious dogs?
Yes. Simple tricks and positive rewards can build confidence and help anxious dogs focus. Start in quiet places and keep it fun.