How to Train Your Dog to Dance in a Circle

Make sure your dog is giving you his full attention before starting a training session.

Here's a cute little trick that is easy to teach. It seems especially appropriate for smaller dogs, but you can teach it to a big dog with a modification. Teaching a dog to dance in a circle is easy to do if you use a lot of positive reinforcement. Make sure your have your dog's undivided attention before starting a training program. Distractions will make the task more difficult.

Things You'll Need

• Dog treats

Instructions

1. Choose your dog's favorite tasty treats. These should be very small and easy to chew and swallow. You don't want your dog to stop in the middle of the lesson to lie down and chew on her treat. Chicken hot dogs, cut into small bites, makes an excellent treat for training.

2. Bring your dog to a quiet place to work. Distractions can come later, but a quiet, distraction-free area is best for starting the lessons. Make sure your dog has eliminated and is not distracted by other animals in the household.

3. Pick up one treat, and hold it in your fingers, but keep your fingers closed, so the dog cannot get the treat. Hold your hand with the treat in it, close to the dog's nose, and then move your hand up and back, over the dog's head. As the dog lifts his head to follow your hand with the treat in it, you slowly lift your hand higher, encouraging the dog up onto its hind legs.

4. Watch your dog closely to make sure he can balance in this position. Depending on your dog's balance, you may need to stop at this point where he is standing on his hind legs, for now, until he learns to balance better in that position. Some dogs can immediately start to dance in the circle, or twirl. To get the dog to twirl around, just circle your hand with the treat in it, close to your dogs nose. Some dogs will get this right away, and others will need practice. You may also need practice to get the right motion with your hand.

5. Say the word "dance" only once at the right time. You should say dance, while the dog is twirling. Timing is critical with all dog training. The dog will connect the word dance with whatever is happening at the moment she hears you say dance. So you have to make sure you say dance while she is twirling around.

Tips & Warnings

• You could also teach your dog to walk in a circle instead of standing on his hind legs using these same steps.

• Twirling in a circle but remaining on "all fours" is safe for all dogs, no matter the size or age.

• Do not teach this trick to puppies under a year old. They are still growing and have softer ligaments and bones, so could be injured more easily. A very tiny puppy, like a chihuahua, may be able to learn this trick safely .Be careful with your dog's health. Some dogs do not have the right build and should not perform this trick. You can tell by looking, or by trying it and if the dog can't seem to get his balance or is very hesitant to go up on the hind legs, try teaching him to dance in a circle on all fours instead -- use the same teaching technique.

References

• Dog Training A to Z:

Resources

• Free Dog Training: Home