96 Dog Tricks: The Ultimate List
Last updated: by Kyle J. Larson Affiliate Disclosure: We hope you love the products we've recommended! As an Amazon Associate we earn a small share from qualifying purchases.
If you’ve ever wanted to teach your pup some awesome dog tricks, this is the BEST guide out there.
We’ve uncovered 96 different dog tricks that your dog can learn.
You can browse through this list to find the perfect next trick to work on with your dog.
Check it out:
Essential Dog Tricks
1. Clicker / Yes Response
Easy- “Yes”
Easy
“Yes”Get your dog to associate a clicker or the word “yes” with being rewarded.
Clicker training is helpful to let your dog know that they’ve done the correct behavior. It is critical to learn for many other tricks, as giving a treat at the right time can be difficult and can slow things down. It can be done with a physical clicker or by saying “yes”.
2. Name Response
- Easy
- “Your Dog’s Name”
Teach your dog to respond to its name.
One of the first things to do when you get a new puppy is teach them their name. It’ll come in handy for all training as an easy way to get their attention. Always make sure their name is a positive thing, rather than in discipline so they respond well to it.
Learn how to teach a dog it’s name >
3. Sit
- Easy
- “Sit”
Get your dog to sit down on command.
This is one of the first tricks you’ll want to teach you pup. It also leads into many other tricks that you’ll want to teach them including laying down and shaking hands.
It’s a helpful command to have to redirect their energy when meeting a new person or dog. This will help calm them down and prevent them from jumping or being too aggressive.
Learn how to teach a dog to sit >
4. Lie Down
- Easy
- “Down”
Teach your dog to lay down on the ground.
This is an important trick to help get your dog to relax. It also leads into several other tricks and is helpful for controlling behavior.
5. Stay
- Easy
- “Stay”
Get your dog to stay in one spot until released.
This trick is helpful when you need to keep control of your dog. For example when you don’t want them to go after another dog or something else naughty that they might get into. It’s also useful for other tricks like hide-and-seek.
6. Come
- Easy
- “Come”
Have your dog come to you.
You’ll use this trick very often with your pup so it’s a great one to master. It’s really important to get your dog to come to your if they’re getting into trouble, running away, or if you just want them to come inside.
7. Stop Barking
- Easy
- “Quiet”
Stop your dog from barking.
Dogs tend to get overly excited when someone comes to the door or goes walking by. It’s fine for them to bark a couple of times, but it’s nice to have a command to stop the from getting carried away.
Get your dog to stop barking >
8. Drop Item in Mouth
- Easy
- “Drop It”
Get your dog to drop whatever they have in their mouth.
This trick is useful to have for teaching a dog how to play fetch. It’s also a critical command for your pup to learn for when they pickup something you don’t want them to have. This could be something you don’t want them to damage or something that is dangerous for them to have.
9. Take an Object
- Easy
- “Take It”
Have your dog take an item in their mouth.
This simple command is useful to have your dog take an item, such as a ball or toy.
10. Don’t Take an Object
- Easy
- “Leave It”
Get your dog to leave an item alone.
Often your dog will find something they shouldn’t have like a personal item or even a critter along the path on a walk. This is a helpful command to teach your pup early.
Learn to teach your dog to leave it >
11. Go to The Bathroom
- Easy
- “Go Potty”
Have your dog go to the bathroom on command.
Dogs often take a long time to go to the bathroom. This can be a pain when you’re trying to trying to leave or the weather isn’t great for hanging around outside waiting. With this helpful command you can tell them to go about their business.
12. Go Back to What You Were Doing
- Easy
- “Release”
Release your dog from a stay command.
When you’ve had your dog stay you can release them using this command or you can use the “come” command to have them come to you as an alternative.
13. Wait
- Easy
- “Wait”
Have your dog wait before eating.
This command can be used to temporarily keep your dog from going after something such as their food. It’s useful for setting up more complicated behaviors.
14. Touch
- Easy
- “Touch”
Have your dog touch their nose to an object.
You can do this trick with a stick and get your dog to touch it with their nose. This can be a helpful command to learn for teaching more complex behaviors.
Classic Dog Tricks
15. Shake Hands
- Easy
- “Shake”
Have your dog lift its paw to shake hands.
This is one of the most classic dog tricks and a great way to get your dog to perform a simple trick for a reward.
16. Fetch a Ball or Toy
- Easy
- “Fetch”
Train your dog to retrieve a ball or toy and bring it back to you.
This is a fun game to play with your dog and a great way to exercise them. If you have a retriever or a working dog it’s likely they will love this game and may even naturally start doing this trick.
17. Bring It
- Easy
- “Bring It”
Have your dog bring you an object.
This trick works hand-in-hand with the “take it” command to have your dog grab an object and bring it to you.
18. Sit Pretty / Beg
- Medium
- “Sit Pretty”
Teach your dog to sit up on their back legs with their paws in the air.
This trick is also known as beg as it looks like your dog is nicely asking you for something. It’s a fun trick to have your dog show off for company.
19. Balance on Head
- Medium
- “Balance”
Have your dog balance a treat on their head.
This is a fun trick to mix up how your dog receives a treat.
Teach your dog to balance a treat on its head >
20. Balance on Nose
- Medium
- “Balance”
Have your dog balance a treat on their nose.
This might require a bit more patience as the dog can see the treat on their nose, but this is an easy variation from balancing the treat on their head. This one is fun too because with some practice your dog may be able to flip the treat off their nose and catch it.
Teach your dog to balance a treat on its nose >
21. Roll Over
- Medium
- “Roll Over”
Have your dog roll over from a lying down position.
Once your dog is good at lying down on command this is a good next trick to start working on. It’s also super fun to watch.
22. Tug of War
- Easy
Get your dog to pull on an object while you pull against them.
This is a classic dog game that some dogs will pick up on their own. It’s a good idea to have “drop it” trained as well for when your pup has something you don’t want them to have and you’re not really trying to play tug of war.
23. Speak
- Easy
- “Speak”
Teach your dog to bark on command.
This is a fun command to get your dog to respond to you with a bark.
24. Speak Quietly / Whisper
- Medium
- “Quietly”
Teach your dog to bark on command but softly.
A variation of the speak command but your dog will learn to bark softly.
25. Point
- Medium
- “Point”
Have your dog point at something with their nose.
This is classically a hunting behavior where the dog is trained to point to the bird that the hunter is looking for.
26. Play Dead
- Hard
- “Bang”
Teach your dog to flop over and play dead.
This is classic funny trick to have your dog pretend to be dead after making a bang noise. It’s sure to impress your company!
27. Ring a Bell to Go Out
- Easy
Have your dog ring a bell at the door when they need to go out.
A handy trick to teach your dog to make it super clear when they need to go outside without needing to bark or worry about them going to the bathroom indoors.
Behavior and Manners Dog Tricks
28. Walk on a Leash
- Easy
Get your dog to walk nicely on a leash.
Having your dog walk nicely is a huge step to making walking your dog fun instead of a painful experience. Especially when its slippery out, having an untrained dog can be painful.
29. Heel
- Medium
- “Heel”
Have your dog walk along side you instead of pulling.
Heeling is one of the important tricks to teach your dog to have them walk nicely along side of you. Often dogs will want to pull and lead the way, but this will solve that issue.
30. Walk Backwards / Reverse
- Easy
- “Back Up”
Have your dog back up in a straight line away from you.
This is a nice trick to have for setting up other tricks when your pup is too close, but also a great thing to have trained when they’re being too food aggressive.
31. Go to Kennel
- Easy
- “Kennel Up”
Have your dog go into their kennel.
If you kennel your dog as a puppy or while you’re away from home this is a great behavior to train that makes kennel time a simple task.
32. Wipe Paws
- Easy
- “Wipe Your Paws”
Have your dog wipe its paws when coming inside.
This is a really cool trick to have when it’s raining or muddy outside and surprisingly not as difficult to train as it sounds.
33. Go to a Place
- Easy
- “Place”
Get your dog to go to a specific place.
This is a handy trick to get your dog to go to a specific place. Often it’s used to have your dog go to its bed to lay down.
Brain Games Dog Tricks
34. Dog Puzzles
- Medium
Have your dog work on a puzzle.
There are tons of really cool dog puzzles (also known as interactive dog toys) that you can buy at a pet store or online. They have a range of difficulties and typically involve your dog performing an action to get a treat. They’re also a great way to provide some mental stimulation for your pup.
35. Find a Person or Object
- Hard
- “Find It”
Have your dog search for a person by scent.
This is an advanced trick where your dog uses its nose to track a person by scent. It’s typically trained for working dogs, but with dedication you can train it as well.
36. Shell Game
- Hard
- “Find It”
Have your dog choose the correct pot with a treat under it.
You’ve probably seen the shell game as a magic trick where an object is under one of three cups and they are moved around. Then once they are stopped you’re supposed to have tracked which cup the object was under. You can train your dog to do this impressive trick too!
37. Which Hand Holds the Treat?
- Easy
- “Find It”
Have your dog select the correct hand holding a treat.
This is a fun game to play with your dog. Simply put a treat in one of your two hands, make two fists, and hold them both out apart from each other. Then ask your dog to pick the hand with the treat in it. If they choose correctly give them the treat.
Funny Dog Tricks
38. Act Ashamed
- Medium
- “Head Down”
Have your dog put their head down to the ground.
This trick has your dog lower their head to the ground and look up at you, which makes your pup look like the are ashamed. You could mix up the command for your dog and say “ashamed” as an alternative.
39. Bear Teeth
- Medium
- “Teeth”
Get your dog to show their teeth.
Get your dog to show their teeth. This can be helpful for brushing their teeth too. You’ll want to teach the targeting trick first, which is shown in this video.
40. Growl
- Hard
- “Growl”
Teach your dog to growl on command.
This is an odd trick where you can get your dog to growl using a command by training them to growl when playing tug. You’ll have to capture the behavior first to get them to understand.
41. Hands Up
- Hard
- “Stick em Up”
Teach your pup to lift their paws in the air.
An impressive trick that can be trained with a command or by pointing your finger like a weapon. This can then be combined with the play dead / bang trick for a really impressive sequence.
42. Hide-and-Seek
- Medium
- “Their Name”
Hide and your dog will find you.
This is a super fun game to play with your dog. You can teach them to play hide-and-seek just like a human! You’ll just need to teach them to stay first.
43. High Five
- Easy
- “High Five”
Have your pup give you a high five.
A neat variation of shaking, this trick is a great next step. It’ll be sure to impress your guests when they give you a high five.
44. Howl / Wolf
- Medium
- “Wolf”
Teach your dog to howl.
Using the command “wolf” adds some funny to this cool trick. It’s easiest to use a sound effect to get started, and may be more or less difficult depending on if your dog’s breed howls naturally.
45. Kisses
- Easy
- “Kiss”
Teach your dog to kiss your cheek.
This is a sweet, funny trick to have your dog show you some love and affection.
46. Limp
- Hard
- “Limp”
Get your dog to limp on command.
This trick will get your dog to hold a paw up in the air while walking forward, which looks like your dog is limping.
47. Peek-a-Boo
- Medium
- “Peekaboo”
Get your dog to peek-a-boo through your legs.
A fun trick where your dog will learn to pop their head out from between your legs for a treat.
48. Pick a Card
- Medium
- “Take It”
Have your dog pick a card.
Just like a magician asking an audience member to take a card from a fanned out set of cards, you can have your dog pick out a card.
49. Push-Ups
- Easy
- “Down, Stand”
Show your dog how to do pushups.
This trick uses your dog’s ability to both lay down and stand back up on command to chain these behaviors together to make it look like they are doing push-ups.
50. Say Your Prayers
- Medium
- “Prayers”
Have your dog put their paws up and head down like praying.
This amusing trick makes it look like your dog is saying a prayer. Another trick that’s sure to wow anyone.
51. Wave Goodbye
- Medium
- “Bye Bye”
Have your dog wave goodbye.
This is a fun trick to have your dog wave goodbye to your or your guests. It’s an extension of the shake hands trick that many pups learn early on.
Teach your dog to wave goodbye >
52. Yawn / Are You Tired?
- Hard
- “Yawn”
Teach your dog to yawn on command.
This trick is all about capturing behaviors. If you can catch your dog when it’s yawning and treat or use a clicker plus say a command you can slowly train any behavior.
53. Smile
- Medium
- “Smile”
Get your dog to smile.
A funny trick that looks like your dog is smiling at you. You’ll want to teach the targeting trick first, which is shown in this video.
54. Play Piano
- Hard
- “Music”
Teach your dog to play a small keyboard.
This trick starts with knowing how to shake and then training the behavior to get them to bang some keys on a keyboard.
Dog Tricks with Objects
55. Bring Dish
- Medium
- “Get Your Dish”
Show your dog how to bring you its dish.
Get your dog to bring you their dish when it’s time for a meal.
56. Bring Leash
- Medium
- “Get Your Leash”
Have your dog bring its leash to you.
When it’s time for a walk you can have your dog bring it’s leash to you!
57. Name Game – Find by Name
- Medium
- “Get Object Name”
Have your dog bring objects by name.
Similar to bringing a dish or a leash a dog can be trained to bring all sorts of objects. This might include their favorite toy, a tennis ball, or anything else you can think of. Some dogs can even learn names for hundreds of objects.
58. Put Toys Away
- Hard
- “Clean Up”
Get your dog to put its toys in a box.
This is a really cool and helpful trick to have your dog clean up. It can be a tough one to teach, but awesome if you’re up for the challenge.
59. Search / Find It
- Medium
- “Find It”
Get your dog to find a hidden treat or item.
This is a great trick to get your dog some scent training and mental stimulation. It’s also a fun game you can play anytime.
60. Put a Ball in a Launcher
- Medium
Teach your dog to drop a ball in an automatic launcher.
You can purchase some automatic launchers for dog balls and even train your pup to drop a ball into them.
61. Easter Egg Hunt
- Medium
- “Find It”
Have your dog do an easter egg hunt.
This is a super fun variation of the find it game, where your dog searches for treats in plastic easter eggs.
Service Dog Tricks
62. Bring Slippers
- Medium
- “Fetch My Slippers”
Get your dog to fetch your slippers or other shoes.
Can you imagine your dog bringing you your slippers on command? It’s totally possible and easier than you may think. For those with mobility issues, it’s a necessity. And for others, it’s a convenient and cool trick.
Teach your dog to fetch your slippers
63. Carry Purse
- Medium
- “Carry”
Show your dog how to carry your purse or bag.
This trick teaches your dog to carry your purse, or any sort of bag really. They’ll also learn how to bring it straight to you and release it on command.
64. Fetch a Drink
- Hard
- “Get Me a Drink”
Train your dog to go get you a drink.
Imagine sitting on the couch watching your favorite TV show. You want a drink, but you can’t or don’t want to get up. Instead, your four-legged friend runs to the fridge and returns with a cold one. It’s totally possible by learning this hard but rewarding trick.
Teach your dog to bring you a drink
65. Fetch a Newspaper
- Medium
- “Newspaper”
Instruct your dog to go get your newspaper.
If your dog knows how to fetch a ball, bring it back to you and release it on command, they can certainly learn this trick. Just follow these instructions, and you can sit back and sip your coffee while your dog brings you your newspaper.
66. Find Keys
- Medium
- “Keys”
Get your dog to run and grab your keys.
With this trick, your dog will run and grab your house or car keys on command. It’s an incredibly helpful skill for the elderly or those with mobility issues. And it’s sure to impress everyone who witnesses this act.
Train your dog to get your keys
67. Light On/Off
- Medium
- “Lights Out” or “Lights On”
Instruct your dog to turn the lights on or off.
Don’t want to get up to turn the lights on and off? If your dog is physically able, they can learn how to do it for you. This is convenient for you and can help save energy. And your dog gets a physical and mental workout.
68. Open a Door
- Medium
- “Open Door”
Train your dog to open the door for you.
Teaching your dog to open the door is an incredibly useful skill. Just imagine having an extra set of hands (or paws) to help. And the trick is easier than you think with these simple instructions.
Show your dog how to open a door
69. Close a Door
- Medium
- “Close Door”
Teach your dog to close the door.
If your dog can open a door, you may as well teach them how to close it, too. It’s a very useful trick and will definitely come in handy.
70. Pass a Note
- Medium
- “Take It To (Insert Name)”
Train your dog to pass a note to someone.
Passing notes isn’t just for middle schoolers. You can teach your dog how to do it, too. It’s a fun trick and can come in handy during emergency situations.
71. Take off Socks
- Medium
- “Take Off Socks”
Ask your dog to take off your socks.
Getting your dog to take off your socks is a special experience. It can be a huge help, especially if you’re experiencing health issues. Plus, you’re sure to bond with your pup in the process.
Dog Agility Tricks
72. Bow
- Easy
- “Bow”
Train your dog to take a bow like a proper pup.
If you’re looking for an easy trick to teach your pup that is a sure people pleaser, this is the one. Your dog leans down with their front legs just like they’re taking a bow. Adorable! It’s a great way to finish a round of tricks.
73. Circle Me
- Easy
- “Circle me”
Teach your dog to run around you in a circle.
With the “Circle Me” trick, your dog will move around you on command. This is an excellent activity for dogs with a lot of pent up energy. And it’s a great bonding experience for you and your four-legged friend!
74. Crawl
- Medium
- “Crawl”
Train your dog to crawl on the ground toward you.
Getting your dog to crawl is a fun party trick, and it also provides a great mental and physical workout. Before you dive into this trick, you’ll want to make sure your pup knows how to sit, lie down and stay since this builds upon those commands.
75. Dance
- Hard
- “Dance”
Get your dog to stand up and dance around.
Dancing isn’t only for humans! Dogs can do it too with the right training. The goal is to get your dog to stand up on their hind legs and twirl around like a dancing pro. This isn’t a trick that every dog can do due physically, but for those who can, it’s a fun activity.
How to teach your dog to dance
76. Frisbee Catch
- Medium
- “Catch it”
Show your dog how to catch a frisbee with their mouth.
If your dog has mastered the game of fetch, take it one step further and show them how to catch a frisbee. The goal is to throw a frisbee and get your dog to catch it like a champ. This trick is especially great for breeds like the Border Collie, Golden Retriever, Australian Shepherd and Labrador Retriever.
Teach a dog to catch a frisbee
77. Hurdle
- Hard
- “Jump high”
Train your dog to jump over hurdles with ease.
Jumping over hurdles isn’t just for the dogs you see at agility competitions. You can teach your dog this trick, too, with patience and repetition, if they are physically able. Just buy a home agility course and let the fun begin.
How to teach a dog to jump over hurdles
78. Jump into Your Arms
- Medium
- “Jump”
Get your dog to jump into your arms.
A cool trick where your dog runs and jumps up into your arms and you catch them. This is possible with any size dog, but may be easier with a small pup.
79. Jump Rope
- Hard
- “Jump”
Show your dog how to skip rope with you.
Once your dog has mastered the easy and intermediate tricks, then it’s time to test out some more advanced activities. For example, you can teach your dog how to jump rope with you. This will blow people’s minds and is something you’ll definitely want to video.
Teach your dog how to jump rope
80. Jump Through Arms
- Hard
- “Jump”
Get your dog to leap through your circled arms.
If you dog is a proven jumper, it could be fun to try out this cool trick. You create a circle with your arms, and your dog jumps through it like an acrobat. Given the size limitation of the arm circle, this is definitely a trick only for small and possibly medium dogs.
Teach your dog how to jump through arms
81. Leap Over a Stick
- Medium
- “Over”
Train your four-legged friend to jump over a stick.
Once you’ve mastered basic tricks, this is a great one to try next. You’ll place an object, most likely a stick or something similar, on the ground and encourage your dog to leap over it. This is a great bonding experience for the both of you, and it’s a trick that works for all sizes.
82. Leap Me
- Medium
- “Over”
Get your dog to jump over you.
Similar to leaping over a stick you can lay down or on your hands and knees and get your dog to jump over you.
83. Leap Over People
- Medium
- “Over”
Get your dog to jump over people.
You can expand your dog’s jumping tricks to get them to jump over your back, and even add on to that and have someone else (or multiple people) get on their hands and knees for your dog to jump.
84. Leap Through Hoop (Twice)
- Medium
- “Jump”
Teach your dog to jump through a hoop
You can teach your dog to jump through a hoop and even get them to do it on both sides of your body!
85. Paws on Arm / Up
- Easy
- “Paws up”
Teach your dog how to put their paws up on a person or object.
This adorable and endearing trick encourages your dog to put their paws on you, another person or an object like a chair, wheelchair or grooming table. You’ll find this is act quite charming and also very useful, like when you have to trim their nails.
Train your dog to put their paws up
86. Soccer
- Medium
- “Kick”
Teaching your dog to play soccer may sound difficult, but it’s actually easier than you think. Sure, they won’t exactly run around like the Air Bud pups, but you can show your dog how to push a ball around and even score a goal.
87. Spin
- Easy
- “Spin”
Show your dog how to spin around in a circle.
This trick is as straightforward as it sounds: Your dog will learn how to spin around in a circle. Easy to learn and fun for your dog, it’s quite the crowd pleaser. And best of all, pretty much any dog can learn how to do it, no matter what their age, breed, size or ability level.
88. Stand
- Easy
- “Stand”
Teach a dog how to stand on command.
Most dogs can sit, but can yours stand? Teaching your dog this trick is actually easier than you’d think. While this might not be a trick every dog can complete (we’re looking at you, Dachshunds and Bulldogs), it does work for the majority of dogs.
89. Teeter-Totter
- Hard
- “Teeter-Totter” or “Seesaw”
Get your dog to walk smoothly across a teeter-totter.
Many pup parents are interested in agility training, and one of the hardest challenges is the teeter-totter. This is where your dog walks across a teeter-totter (also called a see saw), a tremendous display of balance and skill. You can use the teeter-totter at a dog park or agility facility, or buy your own.
90. Tunnel
- Medium
- “Go Through” or “Tunnel”
Train your dog to go through a tunnel with ease.
When it comes to agility training, one of the first and easiest skills to teach your pup is how to run through a tunnel. This is a fun trick that helps build your dog’s confidence. And fortunately, it’s pretty inexpensive to buy your own tunnel.
91. Walk Tall
- Medium
- “Walk”
Train your dog to stand on their hind legs and walk.
Who said dogs can’t stand up and walk around like humans? This trick teaches your dog to stand up and take steps forward just like you. Sure, they can only stand up for a short period of time, but still it’s pretty cool to see a dog move in this way.
92. Walk Between Legs
- Medium
- “Tween”
Get your dog to walk between your legs.
This is not only a cool trick to show off, it’s a helpful way to keep your dog under control when there’s something going on that you don’t want them to get into.
93. Weave Poles
- Hard
- “Weave”
Teach your dog how to weave through poles.
You’ve surely seen the pups at dog competitions who move seamlessly through agility poles. It’s impressive, right? Well, you too can teach your dog how to do this with patience, persistence and the right equipment. Just buy a weave pole set and away you go!
Teach your dog how to weave through poles
94. Weave Through Legs
- Medium
- “Go Through”
Train your dog to weave through your legs.
If you’re looking for a way to challenge your dog while bonding with them in the process, this is the trick for you. With the right instruction, you can get your four-legged friend to traverse through your legs like a pro. No doubt your friends and family will be impressed!
Train your dog to weave through your legs
95. Balance on My Back
- Medium
- “Jump on”
Train your dog to jump on your back on command
With this trick, you’ll get down on your hands and knees and command your dog to jump on your back – quite the impressive feat! Not all breeds can physically complete this trick, and you may not want your extra large animal like a Great Dane or St. Bernard pouncing on your back. But if it’s a physical match for you and your pup, why not try it out.
96. Obstacle Course
- Hard
Train your dog to move through an obstacle course.
Agility sports are awesome for your dog’s physical and mental health. With this activity, your dog will move through an obstacle course made of tunnels, jumps, walkways and more in a timed sequence. You can take classes or buy equipment and try this training out at home.
Dog Tricks List – Conclusion
Hopefully you found this giant list of dog tricks helpful! If you did please share this list with another dog lover. Also if you have any more trick ideas, success stories, or tips for these tricks let us know in the comments below.
If you’re working with a puppy you may find our puppy training guide useful, or if you’re working with an older dog – don’t worry it’s never too late to start training.
Getting a New Dog?
1 Comment
I love the videos and information! Thankyou!