New Year, New Tricks: Commands to Teach Your Dog in 2026

The start of a new year always comes with that feeling of a fresh slate. It’s like the perfect excuse to set some positive intentions, create plans and make some promises to ourselves that we’ll (hopefully) stick to for at least the entirety of January. And while new year’s resolutions are important for us humans, it’s also a brilliant excuse to set some for our dogs too.

It might be to walk a little longer every day, try out some new enrichment recipes or, as we often find the most fun, teaching new commands. Teaching our dogs some new tricks isn’t about having a “perfectly behaved” dog but more about making sure they know all the essentials to keep them safe as well as using training as enrichment. Choosing some new commands to teach your dog gives them purpose, builds their confidence and even strengthens the relationship between you both.

And this isn’t just a new year’s resolution for puppies, but for dogs of all ages. Older dogs still love learning, and training gives them something meaningful to focus on, which can be especially beneficial for enrichment, bonding and even cognitive health as they age.

So whether you’re a new dog owner looking for commands to teach your dog or you’re simply looking for some new ways to engage your dog, the new year is the perfect excuse to get into training. Below, we’ll cover essential commands every dog should know, followed by some fun, feel-good commands that keep training enjoyable for both of you.

There are some core commands to teach your dog that everyone and their pup should know. They’re not just essential for making day-to-day life easier, but they’ll help keep your dog safe and calm in every situation.

“Sit” is often one of the very first commands dogs learn, and for good reason. It’s relatively easy to teach, no matter the age of your pup, and it forms the foundation for so many other behaviours.

To teach sit, hold a treat close to your dog’s nose and slowly lift it upwards and slightly back. As their head follows the treat, their bottom should naturally lower to the ground. The moment they sit, reward them with praise and treats. Like all commands to teach your dog, try to keep sessions short and positive.

“Stay” is all about patience and self-control, and it’s one of the most valuable commands to teach your dog for real-life situations. It’s an essential for their safety, like when you need to open the front door or keep them calm in busy environments.

Start by asking your dog to sit, then take a small step back while holding your hand up like a stop sign. If they stay put, return to them, praise and reward. Gradually increase distance and duration over time.

A reliable recall is one of the most important commands to teach your dog, especially for off-lead walks in the UK. It means you and your pup can enjoy more freedom on walks and helps prevent them from getting into any dangerous situations.

To teach recall, begin in a quiet, distraction-free space. We suggest hiring out a secure dog training field or using a long dog training lead as you get started. Also be sure to speak in a cheerful tone as you say your dog’s name followed by “come,” and reward generously when they return to you. The best way to make recall irresistible to your pup is by using high-value treats and plenty of praise from you.

“Leave it” is another one of those essential commands to teach your dog that will one day be invaluable when you need them to disengage from something tempting. It’s not uncommon to come across dropped food on walks or find your dog stealing your sock around the house, so it’s a fantastic way of keeping them under control and safe.

To teach leave it to dogs, we suggest holding a treat in your closed hand and letting your dog sniff it. Then, the moment they back away, say “leave it” and reward them with a different treat from your other hand. This helps them learn that ignoring something leads to better rewards. You can also use their favourite toys too, by enjoying a brief play session and then getting them to drop and leave the toy with treats and praise.

And finally, the last command we always suggest including in your dog’s training arsenal is “heel”. This command teaches your dog to walk calmly by your side which makes walks more enjoyable for everyone involved. It prevents pulling and encourages your dog to check in with you regularly.

Start with your dog on a comfortable harness and lead. A good no-pull harness like the Zee.Dog Softer-Walk harness is perfect as it has a clip on the front for leading your dog back towards you when they pull. Then make sure to have plenty of tasty training treats in your pocket so you can reward your dog when they walk by your side and don’t pull. Before you know it, you’ll be able to enjoy hands-free dog leads with a pup that walks perfectly by your side.

Once you have mastered the dog command essentials, you can move onto some of the more fun dog tricks. It’s important that even after your dog has become a well-behaved pro, you still implement training into their routine, because it continues to provide mental stimulation and builds their confidence. There are so many different fun commands to teach your dog, but these are some of our favourites.

“Find it” is a fantastic command that taps into your dog’s natural sniffing instincts. We love it for creating indoor treasure hunts and scent-based enrichment, which is always a good way to exercise their brain when the weather isn’t great and walks aren’t possible.

Start by tossing a treat a short distance away and saying “find it” as your dog moves towards it. Snuffle mats are also a brilliant way to introduce this command, as they naturally encourage your dog to sniff, search and hunt for their reward. As they root around using their nose, they begin to connect the words “find it” with the action. Once they’ve got the idea, you can make things more exciting by hiding treats around the house for them to sniff out.

Teaching your dog to tidy up their toys is a fun party trick and a great brain workout for them, although keep in mind this is one of the harder commands to teach your dog – but definitely one that pays off once you’ve both mastered it!

Start by teaching your dog to reliably pick up a toy. Place a favourite toy on the floor, encourage interaction and reward any interest, then progress to rewarding them only when they lift it with their mouth. Then, you’ll want to work on the drop so hold a treat near their nose and say “drop” and treat them once they do. When they’ve mastered both parts, you can incorporate a box or basket until they learn to drop it inside.

“Paw” is a fun, confidence-boosting command that most dogs enjoy learning, and it’s a great option for dogs who are new to training or a little unsure. Begin with your dog sitting or standing calmly in front of you then hold a treat in a closed fist just above their nose level. Most dogs will naturally paw at your hand to try and get the treat.

The moment their paw lifts, even slightly, say “paw,” open your hand, praise and reward. Repeat this a few times, only rewarding when the paw makes clear contact with your hand. Once they’re offering the behaviour confidently, you can start saying the word “paw” just before they lift their foot.

Spin is a light-hearted, movement-based training command for dogs that’s fun for everyone. It adds a bit of energy into a training session and is perfect as a fun finisher before you wind down.

Start with your dog standing in front of you and hold a treat close to their nose. Then, slowly move your hand in a small circle around their head. As they follow the treat, their body should naturally turn. Once they complete the circle, say “spin,” praise and reward. At first, you’ll need to guide the movement fully but over time, you can reduce the size of the hand motion as your dog responds to the verbal cue.

“Touch” involves teaching your dog to gently tap their nose to your hand, and it’s one of the most versatile and useful fun commands you can teach. It’s a good way of improving your pup’s focus and redirecting their attention when they find themselves distracted. It’s also easy to practice anywhere!

Hold out an open palm a few inches from your dog’s nose and you’ll likely find most dogs will instinctively lean forward to investigate. As soon as their nose makes contact with your hand, say “touch,” praise and reward.

Before you begin deciding which commands to teach your dog in the new year, make sure you have the right tools ready to go. Trust us, it makes the whole experience much easier and more enjoyable! 

Having small and tasty training treats is a must, as they’re the perfect size for fitting in your pocket when you’re training on-the-go and also just enough to reward your dog without the risk of over feeding them. Dog treat pastes are also good for this, especially if you’re teaching commands like heel or recall, as you can take it with you and reward without causing too much mess.

Equally good for commands like heel and recall is high quality dog walking gear like a well-fitted harness, collar and lead. The more control you have over your dog, and the more comfortable your dog feels, the easier it will be to practise training consistently and reinforce good behaviour.

Enrichment toys can also play a big role when it comes to teaching your dog new tricks. Puzzle feeders, snuffle mats and treat-dispensing toys make excellent post-training rewards, helping your dog wind down after using their brain. Training should feel rewarding, not exhausting, and having a mix of tools helps strike that balance.

If you ask us, the new year is the perfect opportunity to find some new commands to teach to your dog. It gives you the chance to refocus on connection, enrichment and growth. It doesn’t matter whether you’re reinforcing basic commands or adding in some fun new tricks into the mix, training of all kinds offers mental stimulation, structure and a deeper bond between you and your dog.

Here at WOOOF, we’re here to support every step of your training journey. From training treats and walking gear to enrichment toys that keep those clever brains busy, you’ll find everything you need to turn teaching your dog new tricks into a resolution that actually sticks!

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