Four Fun Tricks to Teach Puppy Today

Even the youngest puppies can learn a few basic tricks. Most puppies can learn the most basic tricks with just 10-15 minutes a day of training.

Trick #1 Sit

In order to teach your puppy to sit, hold a piece of treat in your closed fist and let your puppy smell your hand so he knows the treat is there. Say, "Spot. Sit." Then slowly raise your hand up to where he can barely reach it, allowing your puppy to maintain eye contact with your hand. Say "Spot. Sit." again and move your raised, clenched hand slightly towards the back of your puppy, when he strains back to look at the treat he should naturally sit. When he does sit, say "Good sit, Spot," with an emphasis on the word "sit" so he can further associate the word with the command. Repeat several times and continue training 1-3 times a day until he sits on command, without needing a treat.

Trick #2 Shake

To teach your puppy to shake hands, first have him sit. Then take his paw in your hand and say, "Spot. Shake." Hold his paw for a second. Then let it go and say "Good dog," and reward him with a scratch behind the ears. Repeat this process several times. After a couple of days of training, hold your hand out and say, "Spot. Shake." If he shakes on his own, reward him, if not, continue training him until he does shake.

Trick #3 Kiss

In order to teach your dog to give you a kiss on command, get down low and let him lick your face. Every time he does lick your face, say, "Give me a kiss. Good boy. Give me a kiss." Eventually, you will be able to say, "Give me a kiss," and your puppy will reward you on cue with a kiss.

If your dog is not naturally prone to giving kisses, you may need to spread a little peanut butter, cream cheese, or other sticky treat he likes on your cheek. When your puppy licks it off, say "Give me a kiss. Good boy. Give me a kiss." Eventually, he will give kisses without a peanut butter bribe.

Trick #4 Stand

Have your puppy sit, then hold a treat right in front of his nose and say "Spot. Stand." Then move the treat above him so he will have to stand on his rear legs in order to reach it. When he stands, say "Good stand, Spot." When he sits back down, give him the treat. If your puppy is ready for and advanced trick, take a few steps back with the treat while he is standing and say, "Spot. Walk." If he follows a couple of steps, reward him profusely for "walking."