Teaching your dog playful tricks like shake, roll over, spin, beg, or bow isn’t just adorable — it provides important mental stimulation and healthy physical exercise. Trick training also strengthens the bond between you and your pet while reinforcing everyday obedience skills. And of course, showing off your dog’s talents to friends and family is always a hit.
The good news? You don’t need to be a professional in dog training to teach your puppy or adult dog fun, practical, and impressive tricks. Even first-time dog owners can succeed. Below are 21 entertaining tricks you can start working on today.
Tip: Dogs of all ages are capable of learning. Keep training sessions short, upbeat, and rewarding. Use positive reinforcement, offer treats or praise, and stay patient and consistent. 
01 Give a Kiss
Teaching your dog to “kiss” is one of the easiest tricks to start with. While not everyone loves a slobbery surprise, kids usually find this trick adorable. Place a small treat on your cheek, say your cue word, and your dog will quickly learn to give gentle kisses on command. An added bonus is that putting licking on cue can help reduce unwanted licking at other times.
02 Speak
Training your dog to bark on command is both fun and useful. Many trainers pair the “speak” cue with “quiet” to manage excessive barking. This allows your dog to bark in appropriate situations while giving you control over when it starts and stops. It’s also entertaining to show off your dog’s “talking” skills at gatherings.
03 Back Up
“Back up” is a clever trick that’s surprisingly practical. Once your dog understands it, you can use it to prevent them from rushing through doors, crowding you in tight spaces, or getting underfoot in the kitchen. With patience and a few treats, most dogs can quickly learn to step backward on command.
04 Shake Paws
Having your dog greet people with a polite paw shake is always charming. This classic trick is easy to teach and usually takes just a few short sessions. Since many dogs naturally use their paws, they tend to enjoy the attention and praise that come with this behavior.
05 Wave
Waving hello or goodbye is an adorable extension of “shake.” Start with the paw-shake behavior, then gradually teach your dog to lift their paw higher in a waving motion. It’s a great attention-getting trick and looks incredibly cute.
06 Spin
Hold a treat near your dog’s nose and slowly guide them in a circle to teach a spin. Once they understand the motion, you can make it more advanced by teaching spins in different directions. Your friends will be impressed when your dog can spin left or right on cue.
07 Sit Pretty
Also known as “beg,” this trick involves your dog balancing on their hind legs while lifting their front paws. It’s extremely cute and perfect for photos. If you go a step further and teach your dog to take a few steps on their back legs, you’ll really wow your audience.
08 Roll Over
Rolling over is usually taught in small steps, gradually building up to the full motion. It may take some extra practice, but it’s worth it. This fun trick also serves as a foundation for more advanced behaviors like playing dead.
09 Play Dead
Your friends will be amazed when you pretend to shoot with your finger, say “bang,” and your dog dramatically falls over. Although it looks complicated, it’s much easier if your dog already knows how to roll over.
10 Take a Bow
In this trick, your dog lowers their chest to the ground while keeping their rear end up. It may sound difficult, but bowing is actually a natural dog behavior known as a play bow, often seen when dogs invite each other to play. It’s also a perfect way to finish a trick performance.
11 Sit
“Sit” is often one of the first commands taught in obedience training. With treats, patience, and consistency, most dogs learn it quickly. Mastering sit also makes it easier to teach more advanced commands later.
12 Down
Teaching your dog to lie down on command is another basic but important skill. Your dog stays on the floor until released. Besides being impressive to show off, this command is useful for building toward other tricks like rolling over.
13 Come
Few things feel better than calling your dog and seeing them happily run toward you. Beyond being adorable, a reliable recall command can help keep your dog safe in potentially dangerous situations.
14 High Five
If your dog already knows how to shake or wave, teaching a high five is an easy next step. The difference lies in how their paw meets your hand. This adorable trick is always a crowd favorite and gives your dog even more positive attention.
15 Place
“Place” teaches your dog to go to a specific location, such as their bed or crate, and settle there calmly. It’s both a trick and an important life skill that helps your dog relax in a safe, designated space.
16 Wait
The “wait” or “stop” command teaches your dog to pause whatever they’re doing until you release them. This is extremely useful for preventing jumping, chasing wildlife, or running into unsafe areas. It’s also impressive to show how your dog freezes on cue.
17 Stand
Just as dogs can learn to sit and lie down, they can also learn to stand on command. This can be helpful for grooming or vet visits. For a greater challenge, you can teach your dog to stand only on their hind legs, which takes more patience but looks impressive.
18 Jump
Jumping is great for both structured activities and everyday fun. In dog agility training, dogs learn to jump over hurdles. At home, you can teach your dog to jump over low obstacles or even into your arms. Always train gradually to keep your dog confident and safe.
19 Eye Contact
This trick teaches your dog to make and maintain eye contact. Using cues like “watch me” or “look,” you can build strong focus. This is helpful in both agility training and obedience work, and it’s great for keeping your dog attentive in daily life.
20 Fetch
Many dogs love playing fetch, but some need help learning the rules of the game. With guidance, you can teach your dog to retrieve toys or balls and bring them back to you, whether indoors or outside in the yard.
21 Hug
A dog hug might be one of the sweetest things ever. Start by teaching your dog to lift their front legs and gently rest their paws on you. With time and practice, your dog can learn to give warm, affectionate hugs on cue.
