Episode 027 - Are Sit and Down Really Dog Tricks? Understanding How Dogs Learn Behaviors

Season #1 December 02, 2025

Show Notes

Are Sit and Down Really Dog Tricks? Understanding How Dogs Learn Behaviors

Quick Answer

Are basic behaviors like sit and down considered dog tricks?

Yes. In dog training, any behavior a dog learns can be considered a trick. Whether it’s sit, down, walking nicely on a leash, agility obstacles, or fetching an item, the learning process is the same. Dogs learn behaviors through clear cues, marking the correct action, and rewarding the dog for performing it.

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast, Lorrie Reynolds explains why every behavior we teach our dogs can be considered a trick.

Many pet owners think of tricks as entertaining behaviors like jumping through a hoop or rolling over. In reality, the same training process used to teach tricks is used to teach everyday life skills such as sit, down, recall, or walking on a leash.

Understanding this can help make dog training feel more approachable and fun. When we treat everyday behaviors like tricks, we often teach them faster and with more enthusiasm from both the dog and the handler.

Topics Covered

dog training basics, teaching dog behaviors, dog training terminology, dog tricks vs obedience, positive reinforcement dog training

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Why every behavior a dog learns can be considered a trick
• Why the term “trick” sometimes confuses pet owners
• How the same training process applies to both tricks and basic behaviors
• Why approaching training like a game can help dogs learn faster
• The three basic steps used in teaching any new behavior

Key Takeaway

Whether you are teaching sit, leash walking, agility obstacles, or a fun performance trick, the learning process is the same. By approaching training with a playful mindset and clear communication, you can make teaching everyday behaviors easier and more enjoyable for both you and your dog.

Resources Mentioned

Maximum Fun Dog Sports
https://www.maximumfundogs.com

The Agility Playground
https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/2025-bb-tap1-7D

Stay Connected

If you enjoy the Maximum Fun Agility podcast, consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing the show with a friend who loves training dogs.

You can also explore courses, eBooks, and free resources to help your training at Maximum Fun Dog Sports.

Related Episodes

Episode 014 – Your Dog Determines the Reward
Episode 016 – Keep a List of Your Cues

Additional Resources:

Website: https://www.maximumfundogs.com
Shop: https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/shop
Email: [email protected]
Articles: https://www.maximumfundogs.com/articles
The Agility Playground: https://courses.maximumfundogs.com/2025-bb-tap1-7D

Episode Transcript

Lorrie [00:00:09]:
As dog trainers, we sometimes forget that not everyone is familiar with the terms we use. To the average pet owner, "trick" means jump through a hoop or fetch the newspaper. In truth, every behavior we teach, from sit to walking on a leash to weave poles to fetching a drink from the fridge is just a trick. Welcome to the Maximum Fun Agility podcast. I'm Lorrie Reynolds, owner of Maximum Fun Dog Sports. We help your agility team build your relationship, communication, confidence, and fun in training so that you can joyfully succeed on any course. In this episode, we'll explore why everything can be considered a trick and briefly discuss the steps for teaching any behavior. Everything we train our dogs to do can be considered a trick.

Lorrie [00:01:04]:
While I was creating the free eBook, Find Time to Train Your Dog, I was co-working with a group of business owners who were all doing a similar task. We were encouraging each other and providing feedback on what we were creating. I was kind of surprised when one person said, and I'm paraphrasing, "I don't want to teach tricks. I want to teach my dog the basics. He's just a pet." I didn't have any issue with the just a pet comment, but I didn't realize that many pet owners see tricks and basic behaviors as two completely different things. To me, everything I teach is a trick. I don't teach the basics any differently from the way I teach things people traditionally think of as tricks.

Lorrie [00:01:51]:
When I started creating The Agility Playground, I had to re-record a lot of the basics to make the videos cleaner and up to date. At some point, I want to take advantage of the newer recordings and build a standalone course for pet owners since there seems to be a huge need. I can see that my words need to change though. In dog training language used by dog sport owners, often the word "trick" means any behavior. New pet owners want or need to teach their dogs basic family obedience behaviors. Sit, down, stay, come, potty outside, walk nicely on a leash, and so on. Having these skills makes a dog easier to live with. Training time reduces boredom and bad or destructive behaviors.

Lorrie [00:02:39]:
Specific tricks like recalls and voluntarily leashing up increase the dog's safety, and having a dog that is easier to live with decreases the likelihood of the pet being taken to the shelter. Training the basics doesn't have to be boring, difficult, or a chore. If we approach training life skills the same way we approach tricks, they can be fun to teach for both halves of the team. Dogs will learn them more quickly and the skills are more reliable. Dog training always follows the same basic process. Ask for, wait for, lure, or shape the behavior or pieces of behavior. Mark the correct behavior with a click or marker word like yes. Reward the dog.

Lorrie [00:03:26]:
Of course, there are small differences in the strategies when we are trying to eliminate a behavior like jumping up or barking, But the initial teaching part of dog training is always the same, whether it's sit, do a handstand, or go through a tunnel. For any pet owners listening to this, I hope it has cleared up the confusion over the word tricks. And for dog sport owners, hopefully this is a reminder, like it was for me, that people who don't live in the dog training world 247 don't always understand our terminology. This week, work on teaching your dog a new trick, whether it is a basic behavior or just a silly pet trick to show off to your friends. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast. If you're ready to jump into the wonderful world of agility and need a place to start, join us in The Agility Playground. The Agility Playground is a low cost membership that meets you where you are on your dog agility journey and helps you create a fantastic team. You can check out The Agility Playground and join our community at www.maximumfundogs.com.

Lorrie [00:04:40]:
See you next time.