How to Teach Your Dog to Obey & Do Tricks

Stop giving away free affection; do not mindlessly pet your dog, according to the Humane Society. This is a little secret to getting your dog to obey and do tricks. Consistency is also important. Make obedience a part of your daily routine. Make all interactions with your dog part of the learning experience. Help your dog master basic obedience first, then teach it fun and impressive tricks. It can take a week or two of daily practice to master a command. If you are teaching a complicated trick, work your way through it by teaching it in small, easily understood stages.

Things You'll Need

  • Reward treats
Show More

Instructions

  1. Obedience

    • 1
      Teach an old dog new tricks.

      Show your dog it has to obey your commands in order to get what it wants, according to the Humane Society. Enthusiastically reward positive behavior like coming when called. Use your dog's favorite rewards, whether it be food, toys, praise, affection or games, to encourage the good behavior.

    • 2
      Whenever practical, do your training outside.

      Make your dog sit and wait before feeding. The easy way to teach it to sit is to gently push down on your dog's rear end.

    • 3
      Carpeted surfaces or grass work best for training.

      Make your dog stay before going out an open door. Have someone assist you by standing by your dog to keep it from bolting to the door when you open it. Never let your dog go through an open door in front of you or without permission, according to "The Dog Whisperer" Caesar Milan.

    • 4

      Accompany your voice commands with hand signals until your dog performs with only a subtle signal from you. Keep practicing several times a day for five minutes or until your dog begins to lose interest. Master everything practical such as come, heel, stay, off, stop barking, and teach your dog what "no" means before moving to trick teaching.

    Tricks

    • 5

      Teach your dog how to crawl by having it lie down in front of you. Hold a treat near its nose and tell it "crawl." Move the treat a few inches further each time. If your dog stands up, do not feed him the treat; start over.

    • 6

      Teach your dog to catch by having it sit facing you. Give the command "catch" and, as slowly as possible, underhand toss a dog treat. If your dog does not catch it, snatch it up quickly and try again.

    • 7

      Train your dog to shake by having it sit in front of you. Gently take its paw, praise and give a treat. Repeat several times daily; practice switching back and forth with both hands.

    • 8

      Teach your dog to give kisses on command by getting close and by saying, "Give kisses." Praise whenever it licks your face. If your dog does not lick you, put a little peanut butter on your cheek and try again, according to dog trainer Janet Wall.

    • 9

      Train your dog to beg by making it sit facing you. Hold a food treat just above its head, so it has to raise up slightly to take it. Say "beg" and praise if it stays on its haunches instead of jumping up to grab it. Offer a hand to help your dog learn to balance on its haunches.