If you’re looking for a fun and easy trick to teach your furry friend, spinning is a great place to start. It’s visually impressive, simple to learn, and a great way to mentally stimulate your dog. Whether you want to show off your pup’s skills or just enjoy some quality bonding time, this guide will walk you through exactly how to teach a dog to spin using positive reinforcement and patience.

Why Teach Your Dog to Spin?

Before diving into the training process, let’s look at the benefits. Teaching your dog to spin is more than just a cute party trick:

🧠 Mental stimulation: Learning new commands keeps your dog’s brain engaged.
🤝 Bonding: Training builds trust and strengthens your relationship.

🐾 Physical exercise: Even a quick spin engages muscles and boosts coordination.

🎯 Improved focus: Training requires concentration and listening skills.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Preparation makes all the difference when teaching new tricks.Before you start training then, grab some:

  • Tasty treats – Use soft, bite-sized treats your dog loves. 
  • Clicker (optional) – For those using clicker training. 
  • A quiet space – Free from distractions like toys, other pets, or background noise. 
  • Time and patience – Keep sessions short and fun!

How to Teach a Dog to Spin: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Start With a Lure

Begin by standing or kneeling in front of your dog. Hold a treat close to their nose, then slowly move your hand in a circular motion around their body—either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Your dog should follow the treat with their nose, turning their body in the process. Once your dog completes the circle, immediately praise and reward them.

Tip: Always spin in the same direction at first to avoid confusion. You can teach the opposite direction later and use a separate cue like “spin” and “twirl.”

Step 2: Repeat and Reinforce

Repeat the luring motion several times over a few short training sessions. Keep your movements slow and smooth so your dog understands what you want. Always reward the full spin with a treat and enthusiastic praise.

At this stage, your dog is learning to associate the physical action of spinning with a positive reward.

Step 3: Introduce the Verbal Cue

Once your dog starts to follow the circular hand motion confidently, it’s time to introduce your verbal cue. Common options include:

  • “Spin” (for clockwise) 
  • “Twirl” (for counter-clockwise) 
  • Or any cue word you like! 

Say your cue word just before you begin the hand motion. Over time, your dog will begin to associate the cue with the action.

Step 4: Fade the Lure

When your dog can consistently spin with the lure and verbal cue, begin to reduce the size of your hand movement. Eventually, remove the treat from your hand altogether and just use the motion.

This is called “fading the lure” – and it helps your dog learn to respond to your cue rather than relying on the treat alone.

Keep rewarding your dog with a treat from your other hand or from your treat pouch once the trick is completed.

Step 5: Spin on Cue

With enough repetition, your dog should start responding to your cue word alone. This is your goal: for your dog to spin when you say “spin,” without needing to see your hand motion.

Celebrate this milestone – you’ve successfully learned how to teach your dog to spin!

Teaching Both Directions

Once your dog masters spinning in one direction, you can start teaching the other. Use a different cue like “twirl” to help them distinguish between the two. Start again with luring in the opposite direction, then repeat the steps above.

Teaching both directions is great for balance and mental stimulation.

Common Troubleshooting Tips

If your dog struggles at any stage, try these fixes:

  • Not following the treat? Use a more tempting reward – chicken, cheese, or another high-value snack. 
  • Loses focus easily? Shorten your sessions to 2–3 minutes and try again later. 
  • Gets confused? Break it down. Reward smaller movements first and gradually build up to the full spin. 
  • Dog sits instead? Practise in a standing position and reward before they sit down.

Keep It Fun and Positive

Training should always be a fun experience. Use a happy tone of voice, keep sessions upbeat, and stop before either of you gets frustrated. Celebrate small wins, and remember: consistency is key.

The more positive your training, the more excited your dog will be to learn.

Dog Training With A&T Trained Dogs

If you’re looking to boost your dog training by teaching then how to spin or sit, A&T Trained Dogs are specialists in this area. With over 30 years’ experience, advanced facilities and many success stories, we can help create a tailored training plan to suit your needs. For more information, please get in touch online or contact us on 01524 587315.