Description: Dog lifts a leg like they’re marking territory, often used for laughs or skits.
Why It’s Hard: Requires limb awareness and context cueing.
Training Tip: Use a target stick to shape a leg lift.
Description: Dog steps onto the handler’s feet and holds position for at least three seconds, creating a balanced, connected stance.
Why It’s Hard: Requires trust, body awareness, and stability from both dog and handler.
Training Tip: Lure or target your dog’s front paws onto a pair of shoes first, reward for duration, and gradually increase hold time and the height of the shoes.
Description: Dog jumps cleanly over the handler’s outstretched arms, creating an athletic and eye-catching move.
Why It’s Hard: Combines precision jumping, confidence, and clear understanding of the cue.
Training Tip: Start with a low arm position against a wall, lure and reward successful jumps gradually raising the height as your dog’s confidence grows.
Description: Dog wraps themselves in a blanket by rolling.
Why It’s Hard: Involves object manipulation and body awareness.
Training Tip: Start with blanket partially wrapped and use a lure to guide roll.
Description: Dog runs and leaps into your open arms on cue.
Why It’s Hard: Requires perfect timing, trust, and athleticism.
Training Tip: Start with low-height jumps into a sitting lap before progressing to standing catches.
Description: Dog runs toward a wall and pushes off with paws to change direction mid-air.
Why It’s Hard: Requires agility, confidence, and precise timing.
Training Tip: Start with low surfaces and soft walls, rewarding bounce contact.
Description: Dog places paw over their nose or eyes like they’re shy.
Why It’s Hard: Requires target training and refined paw control.
Training Tip: Use a sticker or tape on nose to trigger paw swipe, then shape.
Description: Dog weaves backward through your legs.
Why It’s Hard: Involves rear-end awareness and advanced coordination.
Training Tip: Teach backward walking first, then add leg positioning.
Description: Dog moves from one side of the handler to heel position on the opposite side.
Why It’s Hard: Requires side-awareness, smooth transitions, and clear cue recognition.
Training Tip: Use a lure or target to guide your dog around your body, reward for correct position, and fade the lure into a verbal or hand signal cue.
Description: Dog moves forward in a low, belly-to-the-ground crawl.
Why It’s Hard: Requires core strength, patience, and sustained focus.
Training Tip: Lure your dog forward under a low object or your arm, rewarding small movements until they can crawl longer distances on cue.
Description: Dog gently places and rests their chin on a hand, object, or surface indicated by the handler.
Why It’s Hard: Combines precision targeting with calm, sustained behavior.
Training Tip: Shape the behavior by rewarding brief chin touches, then build duration and add cues for different target surfaces.
Description: Dog times their jumps to clear a moving rope, either solo or alongside the handler.
Why It’s Hard: Requires precise timing, coordination, and confidence with moving obstacles.
Training Tip: Start with the rope still, reward jumps, then gradually introduce slow swings before building up to full-speed rotations.
Description: Dog moves their head up and down for “yes” or side to side for “no” on cue.
Why It’s Hard: Requires clear separation of two distinct head movements and precise cue recognition.
Training Tip: Shape each motion separately using a lure or target, add verbal cues, then practice alternating between “yes” and “no” for reliability.
Description: Dog balances on their front legs with hind legs lifted off the ground, performing a handstand.
Why It’s Hard: Requires strength, balance, and body awareness.
Training Tip: Build core and forelimb strength first, use a wall or support for stability, and gradually practice assisted standing holds with short durations.
What it is: Dog carries a small prop in their mouth while walking forward beside or in front of you.
Why it shines: Great for storytelling routines or themed shows.
Cue words: “Carry it!”
What it is: You raise your leg, and your dog raises their front paws and poses beside it.
Why it shines: It's a synchronized, symmetrical trick—great for photo ops or dance endings.
Cue words: “Pose!” or “Up!”
What it is: Dog holds a flag, sign, or prop like “Happy Birthday” or “Adopt Me.”
Why it's a hit: Perfect for themed events, parades, and photos.
Cue words: “Hold it!”
What it is: Dog lifts paw and waves it up and down.
Why it's a hit: Great to close any show or party trick session.
Cue words: “Say bye!” or “Wave!”
What it is: Dog walks backward around your legs in a loop.
Why it's a hit: Intricate movement—great for “dance battle” vibes.
Cue words: “Circle back!”
What it is: Dog walks slowly with one front paw lifted, pretending to limp.
Why it's a hit: A silly, theatrical trick that makes people gasp and giggle.
Cue words: “Ouch!” or “Limp”
What it is: Dog rings a service bell with their paw or nose.
Why it's a hit: They look like they're placing an order—guaranteed laughs.
Cue words: “Ring it!”
What it is: Dog balances a treat on their nose and catches it mid-air.
Why it's a hit: Tons of suspense—then cheers when they nail it!
Cue words: “Wait… catch!”
What it is: Dog rides a skateboard a few feet.
Why it's a hit: Show-stopping and totally unexpected.
Cue words: “Ride it!”
What it is: Dog does a spin followed by a vertical hop in place.
Why it's a hit: Looks like a choreographed dance move.
Cue words: “Twist & jump!” or “Dance!”
What it is: Dog puts front paws on a chair or object and lowers head like they’re praying.
Why it's a hit: Adorable, photo-worthy moment.
Cue words: “Pray” or “Say your prayers”
What it is: Dog picks up toys and puts them in a basket.
Why it's a hit: Looks like the dog is cleaning—guests love it!
Cue words: “Clean up!” or “Tidy up!”
What it is: Dog holds and walks with a light object like a basket or toy.
Why it’s fun: Adorable and can be used in skits or daily routines.
Cue words: “Hold it” or “Carry”
What it is: Dog walks backward a few steps.
Why it’s fun: Fun to show off and useful for spatial awareness.
Cue words: “Back up” or “Beep beep”
What it is: Dog touches nose to your hand or object.
Why it’s fun: Foundation for more complex tricks; great for focus work.
Cue words: “Touch”
What it is: Dog lowers their front legs while keeping back legs standing.
Why it’s fun: It looks like a stage bow and is a cute way to end a trick session.
Cue words: “Take a bow” or “Curtsy”
What it is: Dog moves between your legs from behind and peeks out.
Why it’s fun: Builds confidence and a fun bonding trick.
Cue words: “Peekaboo”
Teaching a dog to alert the handler at a certain time (can be paired with an alarm or timer).
Training the dog to locate the door or car in a parking lot or building upon command.
Showing how to condition a dog to respond to alarms or doorbells and alert the handler.
Demonstrate how to teach a dog to gently remove socks or sleeves without damaging clothing or causing discomfort.
How to teach a dog to press an accessibility or emergency button with their nose or paw.
Teaching the dog to lay across the handler’s lap or chest to reduce anxiety or panic.
Using a tug rope or nose target, show the dog how to open and close lightweight doors.
How to train a dog to pick up common items like keys, pens, or a phone and hand them to the handler.
Teaching the dog to touch a hand, object, or button with their nose.
Useful for opening/closing doors, activating switches.