Fun Dog Tricks — Roll Over, Shake & More

Trick training isn't just for show — it's one of the best forms of mental stimulation available. A 10-minute trick training session tires a dog more than a 20-minute walk because it requires sustained focus. Tricks also build confidence, reinforce the relationship, and give bored dogs a purpose. Best of all, tricks are fun — for both of you. Start with your dog knowing "sit" and "down," and these six tricks become achievable quickly.

Why Tricks Are Valuable

Trick training has practical side effects beyond entertainment: it improves the dog's body awareness, increases their engagement with training in general, and teaches them to learn new things — which transfers to all other training. Dogs that know 10 tricks tend to be more responsive and attentive overall because they've learned that training sessions predict good things.

Shake / Give Paw

1. Ask for sit
   Start from a sit position. Hold a treat in your closed fist at the dog's paw level.
2. Wait for any paw movement
   The dog will sniff, nudge, and eventually paw at your fist. The instant a paw touches your hand — click/yes and open your hand to give the treat.
3. Add the cue
   Once they're pawing reliably, say "shake" just before they lift their paw. Transition to offering an open flat hand and rewarding them for placing their paw in it.

Roll Over

1. Start from down
   Ask for down. Hold a treat at your dog's nose.
2. Lure toward their shoulder
   Move the treat toward their shoulder on one side. Their head follows, their weight shifts, and their body tips sideways. When they're on their side — click/yes and treat.
3. Continue the arc
   Once they're reliably flopping on their side, continue moving the treat in a circle over their back. Their body will follow through to complete the roll. Reward the moment they return to all fours.
4. Add "roll over"
   Once fluent with the lure, add the verbal cue and gradually fade the hand motion.

Spin

Hold a treat at your dog's nose and move it in a tight circle, leading them to follow it 360 degrees. Click/yes when they complete the circle. Add "spin" once they're circling reliably. Teach both directions using different cues ("spin" = clockwise, "twist" = counterclockwise).

Play Dead ("Bang")

1. Start from down, lure to side
   From a down, lure the dog onto their side (same as the start of roll over). Stop here and reward heavily. Repeat until they readily go to their side from a down.
2. Add "bang" cue
   Use a finger-gun gesture and say "bang" as you lure. The theatrical cue is part of the fun.
3. Add a release
   Keep them on their side for increasing duration before releasing with "alive!" or "okay." This is the dramatic part the audience loves.

Bow (Take a Bow)

Stand in front of your dog. Hold a treat at their nose and slowly lower it to the floor, keeping it pressed against their chest. As their front end goes down and their back end stays up — click/yes and reward. Add "take a bow" once they're doing it reliably. This one comes naturally to some dogs who do it on their own during play stretches.

Trick Training Tips

• Short sessions: 5–10 minutes per trick, twice a day. End on success.
• One trick at a time: Master one trick before starting the next. Two tricks simultaneously creates confusion.
• Use jackpots for breakthroughs: When the dog "gets it" for the first time — give a jackpot (5–10 rapid treats). This marks the moment of understanding.
• Any dog can learn tricks: Age, breed, and past training history matter much less than people assume. Senior dogs can learn new tricks. Stubborn breeds learn them. You may just need smaller steps.