Below, we’ll list 3-4 easy dog tricks for beginners even novices can master, with clear steps to follow! Remember to always be encouraging, cheerful and happy, showering your dog with praise and making training as fun as it can be!
Easy dog tricks for beginners
1. Lure & Reward
This is more a training principle than an easy dog trick, but you’ll use it when training many tricks. The point of the Lure & Reward is to lure your dog into the desired position with the treat, then reinforce by giving that treat reward.
Use a small but strong-smelling training reward as a ‘lure’, holding it close to your dog’s nose. Your pup’s nose will follow the reward as if he were attached via some invisible hook.
Now, lure your dog to the desired position, then reward with the treat!
Easy dog tricks for beginners: dog crawl
2. The Dog Crawl
Who doesn’t know what the Army crawl is? Maybe you’ve seen it in a movie, or have done it yourself. Here we’ll cover the dog version of the Army crawl, the dog crawl!
Step One
Have your dog lie down, belly flat to the ground. Hold a treat out to his nose, directly in front of your pup’s face. Don’t give it to him yet.
Step Two
Slowly lower the treat down close to the ground. Your dog’s nose should follow it as if there was an invisible hook attaching the two.
Step Three
Now, slowly drag your treat along the ground in front of your dog, simultaneously using the command phrase ‘crawl’. Your dog will crawl forward, following the treat.
- Easy dog tricks for beginners: Reward after a few inches. You want this to be very simple at first!
Step Four
Gradually increase the distance you ask your dog to move, with each training session.
Easy dog tricks for beginners: the dog Spin
3. The Spin
The spin is an absolutely adorable and very easy dog trick for beginners to learn! Now that you’ve mastered the Lure & Reward technique, you’ve already completed half the battle. You’ll be luring your dog into a spin.
Step One
Hold a treat in your right hand if you want to teach your dog to spin to the right, and left for the left. Hold the treat hand out to your dog’s nose, and slowly make a wide circle.
Step Two
Your dog’s nose should follow the treat as if it was attached via an invisible hook! He’ll be forced to ‘spin’ in a circle to follow the treat.
Step Three
Add a command word, like ‘Circle’ or ‘Spin’. Begin saying the command word as you lure your dog into a spin. Repeat this several times, or a few times daily.
Step Four
Once you are confident your dog knows what you want when you tell him to ‘spin’ or ‘circle’, you no longer need to lure him into it. You can wait until he has completed the action, then reward. Remember to reward every time!
Easy dog tricks for beginners: the dog hurdle
4. The Dog Hurdle
You’ve probably seen champion dogs deftly leaping hurdles at world-class agility tournaments! This might seem like a professional level trick at first, but it really is a very easy dog trick even beginners can master. Your ‘Lure & Reward’ is the most important part!
Step One
Set a pole or long stick on the ground. It needs to be visible to your dog, and you’ll need to be able to raise it up in increments later on (but not yet).
Lure your dog over the pole on the ground. He will probably just simply step over it at first. Reward your dog with the treat once he crosses over the pole on the ground.
Step Two
Begin associating a command phrase as you lure your dog over the pole. At this point, you can also raise the pole a few inches from the ground, just enough so your dog has to physically step over it (but not jump).
- Always reward after your dog steps over the pole. Repeat this several times. Eventually, your dog will begin to catch on! “Hurdle”, or whatever your command word is, means he has to step over that pole to get his treat!
Step Three
Raise the hurdle just a few more inches. Maybe your dog has to hop this time, but still not a complete jump. You’re building confidence!
Make sure you reward every single time your dog follows through. Don’t reward if your dog tries to walk around the pole. If he refuses to hop, lower it back down just a little.
Step Four
Continue to raise the pole ever so slightly in this fashion until your dog is leaping something 2, 3, or 4 feet!
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