8 Adorable Tricks to Teach Your Dog (And How I Overcame the Struggles to Nail Them)

Let’s be honest… training a dog isn’t always a walk in the park.

You imagine your pup quickly learning cool tricks, but in reality? They get distracted, lose interest, or stare at you like, “What the heck do you want from me?”

I’ve been there.

But after trial, error, and a LOT of treats, I cracked the code to making dog training effortless, fun, and wildly effective.

Now, I’m going to show you 8 ridiculously cute dog tricks AND the biggest struggles I faced (and solved!) when teaching them.

So, if you’re tired of feeling like your dog is training you instead of the other way around—this is for you.

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1. Shake Hands (The Ultimate Crowd-Pleaser)

Nothing gets people aww-ing faster than a polite dog offering a handshake.

How I Taught It:

1. Had my dog sit.
2. Held a treat in my closed fist near his paw.
3. Waited for him to paw at it (which he naturally did).
4. Said “Shake!” as soon as he lifted his paw.
5. Rewarded immediately.

Common Struggles & Fixes:

🚨 Dog refuses to lift paw? Try gently tapping their paw to encourage movement. If that doesn’t work, reward even the smallest paw lift at first.

🚨 Dog uses their mouth instead? Some dogs try to bite at your hand instead of using their paw. If this happens, remove your hand, wait a few seconds, and try again. Don’t reward mouthing behavior.

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2. Spin (For That Adorable Twirl)

This one’s super cute and surprisingly easy once you get the timing right.

How I Taught It:

1. Held a treat near his nose.
2. Slowly moved the treat in a circular motion.
3. Once he followed the treat and completed the spin, I said “Spin!” and rewarded.

Common Struggles & Fixes:

🚨 Dog only follows halfway? Move slower and reward partial spins at first. Increase the full rotation gradually.

🚨 Dog loses interest? Try using a higher-value treat like chicken or cheese. Energy levels matter, too—train when they’re naturally alert, not right after a nap.

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3. Play Dead (The Dramatic Performance)

If you want your dog to steal the show, this is the trick.

How I Taught It:

1. Started with him lying down.
2. Held a treat near his nose and slowly moved it sideways toward his shoulder.
3. As he flopped over, I said “Bang!” (or “Play dead!”).
4. Rewarded when he stayed down for a second before getting up.

Common Struggles & Fixes:

🚨 Dog gets up too fast? Delay giving the treat for a few seconds longer each time to build duration.

🚨 Dog won’t roll over? Try practicing on a soft surface—some dogs don’t like rolling on hard floors.

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4. Peekaboo (A Social Media-Worthy Trick)

This one is pure entertainment gold.

How I Taught It:

1. Stood with my legs apart.
2. Held a treat in front of my dog’s nose and lured him between my legs.
3. Once his head popped through, I said “Peekaboo!” and rewarded.

Common Struggles & Fixes:

🚨 Dog doesn’t want to go under? Start with wider leg spacing and gradually bring them closer together over time.

🚨 Dog is hesitant? If they seem unsure, try using a toy instead of a treat—some dogs respond better to play motivation.

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5. Hug (Cuteness Overload)

Imagine your dog wrapping their paws around your arm. Instant heart-melter.

How I Taught It:

1. Had my dog sit.
2. Held a treat near his chest to encourage lifting his front paws.
3. Gently placed his paws on my arm and said “Hug!”
4. Rewarded immediately.

Common Struggles & Fixes:

🚨 Dog doesn’t lift their paws? Try training against a wall or couch so they feel more stable.

🚨 Dog keeps jumping instead? Only reward calm lifting of the paws, not full-on jumping.

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6. Fetch My Slippers (Because Why Not?)

Lazy days just got better.

How I Taught It:

1. Started with a favorite toy first (slippers weren’t interesting at first).
2. Threw the toy and said “Bring it!” while showing a treat.
3. Rewarded like crazy when he brought it back.
4. Slowly transitioned from toy to slipper.

Common Struggles & Fixes:

🚨 Dog won’t fetch? Use a toy they already love to bring back, then switch to the slipper later.

🚨 Dog won’t drop it? Teach “Drop it” separately using trade-up rewards (offer a better treat than what they’re holding).

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7. Wave Goodbye (The Cutest Farewell Ever)

Who doesn’t love a waving dog?

How I Taught It:

1. Held a treat near his paw, like in “Shake.”
2. Instead of letting him place his paw in my hand, I lifted my hand slightly so he waved.
3. Said “Wave!” and rewarded.

Common Struggles & Fixes:

🚨 Dog just lifts their paw once? Some dogs only do a tiny lift. Reward multiple lifts to encourage a full wave.

🚨 Dog gets frustrated? Go back to shake and build confidence before trying wave again.

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8. Balancing a Treat on the Nose (Patience Level: Master)

This makes your dog look insanely well-trained.

How I Taught It:

1. Had my dog sit still.
2. Gently placed a treat on his nose while saying “Wait.”
3. If he moved, I reset.
4. If he held still, I gave a big YES! and let him eat the treat.

Common Struggles & Fixes:

🚨 Dog keeps knocking the treat off? Start with a flat treat that stays balanced more easily.

🚨 Dog won’t wait? Use a hand signal with “Wait” to reinforce stillness before adding the treat.

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How I Made Training SO Much Easier

If you’ve struggled before, trust me—I get it.

Here’s what made ALL the difference:

✅ Kept sessions short (under 10 minutes).
✅ Used super high-value treats. (Forget boring kibble—go for cheese or chicken.)
✅ Trained at the right time. (Not when my dog was sleepy or full.)
✅ Made it FUN. (Because if you’re not having fun, neither is your dog.)

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Try These & Watch Your Dog SHINE

Imagine showing off your pup’s amazing new tricks—guests gasping at how smart they are, people asking, “How’d you do that?!”

You got this.

Pick one trick, start today, and watch your dog turn into a trick-performing rockstar.

Which one are YOU excited to teach first? Drop a comment below! 🐶🔥

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Want to Train Your Dog Like a Pro—Without the Frustration?

You’ve seen how these tricks can turn your dog into a show-stopping superstar… but let’s be real—training isn’t always easy.

What if you had a step-by-step system designed by professional dog trainers that made teaching these tricks (and SO much more) effortless?

💡 Imagine…
✔️ Your dog listening instantly—no more repeating commands.
✔️ Tricks that impress everyone (even people who “aren’t dog people”).
✔️ A pup that’s happier, more obedient, and LOVES learning.

I’ve tested countless dog training methods, and after struggling with slow results, I finally found a program that makes training fun, fast, and frustration-free.

It’s like having a pro dog trainer in your pocket—guiding you through each trick with easy, step-by-step lessons that work for ANY dog, at ANY age.

Ready to transform your pup into the smartest dog on the block?

👉 Click here to check out the program and start training like a pro today! 🐶🔥