“Beg” is probably the cutest dog trick you could ever teach.
The result of the “beg” dog trick is for your dog to stand upright on his back legs, with his front legs tucked at the chest.
To teach this dog trick, you’ll start by luring your dog into the position and encouraging that behavior, then gradually you will work on mastering the complete “beg” dog trick on verbal command.
Preparing to Teach the “Beg” Dog Trick
In terms of difficulty, the “beg” dog trick is at about the middle of the road – not very easy, but not very hard.
You’ll need treats, at least. I prefer to use the clicker for instant feedback during all my dog training, and if you’re using a clicker you’ll need to charge the clicker first. A target stick is also helpful, but optional.
A Warning About the “Beg” Dog Trick
Some dogs aren’t built for begging. If your dog has a long spine like a Wiener dog, if he’s an older dog, or has had any history of hip or back problems, you might want to skip teaching the “beg” dog trick altogether.
Instructions for Teaching the “Beg” Dog Trick
Follow these steps to teach the “beg” dog trick, and remember to stay on each step until your dog has completely mastered it. Overall, it should take anywhere between 1-2 weeks to teach this trick.
- Use the target stick or a treat to lure your dog upwards, by holding it just above your dog’s head. If your dog even starts to rise up on his back legs toward the lure, you should click the clicker and give the treat.
- Repeat that step until it’s mastered. Then, make some more progress, by simply raising the lure a little higher. Your dog should start to “squat” on his hind legs to reach the treat or the target stick.
- Continuing with the same routine as above, you will now wait with your dog in the ‘beg” position for a couple seconds before you click and give the treat. This lets your dog practice getting and staying in the right position. Starting here, don’t click or treat for shaky or partial success.
- Now you’ll attach your command word to the “beg” dog trick behavior. “Beg,” “Sit pretty,” and other variations all work – just be sure to pick one and stick with it forever. Say the command word and then instantly raise the lure upwards.
- This is the step that may take the most repetition. You’re going to phase out the target stick or the treat you use to lure your dog up. If you’re using a target stick, gradually grasp it closer and closer to the tip. If you’re using a treat in the hand to lure your dog up, start holding the treat in your other hand and only present it as a reward. Of course, you’re still using your command word – because that’s what you’re building in this step.
- Finally, stop using the target stick or your hand. Just use the command phrase, and of course give a click and a treat whenever your dog successfully performs the “beg” dog trick.
- Gradually fade away the use of the clicker and the treats. Remember to give praise and love so he knows he’s doing the “beg” dog trick correctly.
At this point, you’re basically done teaching the “beg” dog trick. It’s good to continue practicing, and at this point you can start practicing with distractions and in other locations.
If you’re curious about clicker dog training, I recommend you check out this ebook, which explains the science and the hands-on use of clickers in excellent detail.
Troubleshooting the “Beg” Dog Trick
- If your dog is trying to actually stand up on his or her back legs, you may be holding the lure too high. Your dog should only need to sit or squat on his back legs, with his chest upright.
- If your dog is wobbly when in the “beg” position, try doing the training with a wall behind your dog.
- Don’t forget to keep training sessions short, but repeat them often. If your dog is having trouble learning, maybe you’ve skipped to the next step too quickly?
- Don’t forget that some dogs are just physically not suited for the “beg” dog trick – don’t worry, there are plenty of other dog tricks you can teach!
Return to the main dog training guide, or learn about other fun dog tricks.