List of Tricks in Nintendogs

This page is in need of images. You can help Nintendogs Wiki by adding some good-quality images.

This page is a list of all tricks learned in the original Nintendogs. If you were looking for tricks in Nintendogs + Cats, click here.

Basic Tricks

The player is given instructions for Basic Tricks in the Dog Training Book.

Trick	Directions	Image
Sit	Pet your dog's head, then slide the stylus down.	"Sit" command
Shake	Touch and hold your dog's paw, then lift it. Make sure to use the same paw or it'll get confused. There are four different variations of this trick. It can be taught on either the left or right paw, and can be done while standing or sitting. After doing this multiple times, some dogs may get angry and they'll need a toy or treat in order to continue.	"Shake" command
Lie Down	Make your dog Sit, then slide its head down again using the touch screen.	"Lie Down" command
Play Dead	When your dog is lying down, slide the stylus either to the left or right to make it lay on its side. Note: This trick is not to be confused with "Roll Over" in Obedience Competitions.	"Play Dead" command
Roll Over	Petting your dog's belly while in the "Play Dead" position can make it roll over on its back.	"Roll Over" command
Spin	When your dog turns around, touch its tail and hold it until the dog begins to spin. There are two variations of this trick: clockwise or counterclockwise. You can change the direction by moving the tail to the left or right of the dog before it starts spinning. Make sure to use the same direction or it might get confused. After doing this multiple times, some dogs may get angry and they'll need a toy or treat in order to continue.	"Spin" command
Jump	When your dog is excited and playing, tap the air to make the dog jump.	"Jump" command
Beg	Not to be confused with Stand. A Begging Nintendog will rest on its haunches; Stand raises the dog completely off the ground. Slide your dog's head up on the touch screen and it will do a begging motion. It takes practice to learn how to do this trick. Some dogs are not loyal enough to do it and will only wobble on their back legs for a short time and look at the ceiling.	"Beg" command

Advanced Tricks

Advanced Tricks are tricks that the player is not given the instructions for in-game, and must discover on their own.

Some Advanced Tricks take more patience to learn, because a dog will only perform them if their bond with their owner is strong enough. Most Advanced Tricks are taught through commanding the dog to perform easier tricks in succession, so they require the dog to already know basic commands.

If a trick requires the dog to already know a basic command in order to learn it, then the component tricks must be performed immediately after one another-- without petting or rewarding the dog-- or else it will perform the commands as separate tricks.

Some tricks can be taught with the help of records. If using a record, make sure that the game system's volume is off when giving the voice command, or it will pick up the music in the background. It's also worth noting the player can lose Trainer Points from records such as the "Toreador" Record and "Surprise" Record.

Trick	Directions	Image
Dig	While your dog is digging at the floor, go to the Home Screen and zoom in on it.	"Dig" command
Lick	Dogs will usually lick themselves after they have eaten. While your dog is licking itself, go to the Home Screen and zoom in on it.	"Lick" command
Scratch	Your dog needs to be Filthy to learn this trick. Stay at the Home Screen and wait until your dog picks up its hind foot to scratch an itch caused by fleas. Zoom in when this happens.	"Scratch" command
Wave	Make your dog Sit, Lie Down, or Beg, then grab one of its ears. If you hold long enough, the dog will lift its paw up and start rubbing its ear or face, making it appear as if it's waving. After doing this multiple times, some dogs may get angry and they'll need a toy or treat in order to continue.	"Wave" command
Yawn	If you see your dog yawn, go to the Home Screen and zoom in on it. Dogs can be encouraged to yawn with the "Naptime" Record.	"Yawn" command
Sneeze	Tap your dog's nose.	"Sneeze" command
Kick	Tap your dog's back paw while turned. It will calmly tap its hind foot like it is trying to shake dirt off of its paw. After doing this multiple times, some dogs may get angry and they'll need a toy or treat in order to continue.	"Kick" command
Play Bow	Call your dog over and greet it, then wait. Your dog will start to play bow to get your attention. There are two variations of this trick: when the dog is facing you and when it's turned away from you.	"Play Bow" command
Snap	Wait for the dog to play bow when it's turned away from you. Tap the base of its tail and your dog will snap at you. After doing this multiple times, some dogs may get angry and they'll need a toy or treat in order to continue. Note: After this trick has been taught, it can only be performed correctly if the dog is turned away from you. If you give the command while your dog is facing you, it will simply make an angry expression.	"Snap" command
Sing	This trick requires the keyboard. Once you have your dog's attention, zoom in using the camera and tap the piano keys in whatever order you'd like. The dog can memorize up to 15 notes.	"Sing" command
Boo	You need to have either the Balloon or "Surprise" Record to teach your dog this trick. Throw a balloon to your dog, then quickly return to the Home Screen and zoom in on it. Your dog will go after the balloon and bite at it until it pops, causing it to flinch. Alternatively, you can play the "Surprise" Record, then return to the Home Screen and zoom in. At a certain part of the song, the music will swell, making your dog flinch. Note: Both methods can make you lose Trainer Points.	"Boo" command
Wiggle	Your dog needs to be Filthy to learn this trick. Stay at the Home Screen and wait until your dog rolls over. Do not tell it to Roll Over-- you must wait for the dog to roll over on its own. While on its back, your dog will become itchy from the fleas, which will cause it to do a wiggling motion. Zoom in when this happens.	"Wiggle" command
Say Please	Similar to the Wiggle trick, stay at the Home Screen and wait until your dog rolls over. Once on its back, your dog may start waving its front paws. Zoom in when this happens. Since this action is random, this trick may take some time to learn. It may be faster if your dog already knows Wiggle. Zoom in and give the command while at the Home Screen and your dog might decide to perform either Say Please or Swing It before getting back up.	"Say Please" command
Swing It	Similar to the Wiggle trick, stay at the Home Screen and wait until your dog rolls over. While on its back, your dog may start swinging its hind legs. Zoom in when this happens. Since this action is random, this trick may take some time to learn. It may be faster if your dog already knows Wiggle. Zoom in and give the command while at the Home Screen and your dog might decide to perform either Say Please or Swing It before getting back up.	"Swing It" command
High Five	Similar to the Shake command, but the dog will hold its paw higher in the air. Tell your dog to Sit, then drag the dog’s paw all the way up to the top of the touch screen. Hold it there for a second and then let go. After doing this multiple times, some dogs may get angry and they'll need a toy or treat in order to continue.	"High Five" command
Backflip	Command your dog to Sit, then immediately tell it to Jump. Alternatively, you can play the "Flower Waltz" Record, then return to the Home Screen. Near the end of the song, your dog will do a backflip. Zoom in when this happens.	"Backflip" command
Frontflip	Command your dog to Roll Over, then immediately tell it to Jump.	"Frontflip command"
Breakdance	Command your dog to Roll Over, then immediately tell it to Spin. The dog will contort itself while on its back, causing it to spin around.	"Breakdance" command
Howl	Occasionally, a firetruck or a dog barking from outside (in-game) will sound off and cause your dog to automatically howl. When this happens, go to the Home Screen and zoom in on it. This takes a lot of patience to learn, because the firetruck and neighboring dogs can only be heard a few times every day.	"Howl" command
Stand	Command your dog to Beg, then lift its paw up into the air. When it reaches the top of the touch screen, let go. The dog will balance on its hind legs, though it may wobble a little. After doing this multiple times, some dogs may get angry and they'll need a toy or treat in order to continue.	"Stand" command
Handstand	Command your dog to Lie Down, then immediately tell it to Beg.	"Handstand" command
Waddle	Command your dog to Beg, then immediately tell it to Spin. It will assume the Beg position and waddle awkwardly in a circle, like a toy soldier.	"Waddle" command
Bunny Hop	Command your dog to Stand, then immediately tell it to Jump. It will begin leaping on its hind legs like a rabbit, which may look a little awkward!	"Bunny Hop" command
Hyper Jump	This is a variation of the Jump trick. Play the "Flower Waltz" Record, then go to the Home Screen and zoom in on your dog. Wait until your dog jumps without hesitation and with its paws raised. If you don't have the "Flower Waltz" Record, you can teach this trick to your dog when it is hyper. Dogs usually become hyper when they've had a toy to play with for a few seconds. They may also be hyper when you first greet them upon starting the game or if you close the DS for a while and come back. After calling over your dog and greeting it, do not continue petting or it will calm down. Look for signs of it being hyper (panting excitedly, bouncing from side to side, rearing up, barking, digging at the floor). Your dog is hyper for only a short amount of time. Do not tap the air or the dog is more likely to do a regular Jump. Instead, quickly move the stylus back and forth above your dog. Your dog should be jumping differently, with less hesitation and its paws reaching out for you.	"Hyper Jump" command
Hyper Spin	This is a variation of the Spin trick. Play the "Flower Waltz" Record, then move the pitch control slider to the highest setting. Go to the Home Screen and zoom in on your dog, then wait until your dog starts spinning faster than usual. If you don't have the "Flower Waltz" Record, you can teach this trick to your dog when it is hyper. After calling your dog over, find the right moment to quickly touch and hold your dog's tail. It will start spinning either clockwise or counterclockwise with extreme speed.	"Hyper Spin" command
Lazy Spin	This is a variation of the Spin trick. Play the "Flower Waltz" Record, then go to the Home Screen and zoom in on your dog. Wait until your dog starts trotting after its tail. If you don't have the "Flower Waltz" Record, you can teach this trick to your dog when it is tired. Dogs are usually tired following walks or playtime. After calling over your dog, make sure it is panting and has tired eyes, then touch and hold its tail. The dog will start trotting after its tail either clockwise or counterclockwise.	"Lazy Spin" command

Duo Tricks

These tricks require at least two dogs. Dogs cannot learn or perform them if they are by themselves, which means they have no effect in Obedience Trials. Interactions between dogs can be somewhat random unless there are records involved. The player will have to stay at the Home Screen and keep an eye on their dogs' behavior if they want to teach these duo tricks to them.

Trick	Directions	Image
Sniff	Once in a while, dogs will become curious and sniff each other. Zoom in on the dog that sniffed first. Commanding one of your dogs to sniff the other can result in different reactions. The dog being sniffed can be playful, timid, indifferent, annoyed, or angry.	"Sniff" command
Cuddle	When dogs are getting along, they will cuddle each other. Zoom in on the dog that cuddled first.	"Cuddle" command
Rear Up	While dogs are playing with each other, they will sometimes rear up on their hind legs and playfully wave their front paws in the air. Zoom in on either puppy.	"Rear Up" command
Play	Not to be confused with the Play Bow trick, which involves only one dog. Sometimes, dogs will start to bounce from side to side and play bow at each other. Zoom in on either puppy. Alternatively, if one of your dogs already knows Rear Up, give the command and the other puppy might respond by play bowing.	"Play" command
Annoy	Dogs may try to annoy each other every so often. One dog will run up to the other and begin circling, along with barking, jumping, and shoving. Zoom in on the dog doing these actions. Commanding your dog to annoy the other could result in them getting chased or tackled.	"Annoy" command
Chase	Dogs may occasionally chase each other. Zoom in on the dog that is chasing, not the one being chased. Alternatively, you can play the "Toreador" Record, then return to the Home Screen. The music will anger your dogs, causing them to tackle and chase each other.	"Chase" command
Tackle	Dogs may play too rough and occasionally tackle each other. Zoom in on the dog that is tackling, not the one being tackled. Alternatively, you can play the "Toreador" Record, then return to the Home Screen. Note: Giving this command too many times will make your dogs dislike each other.	"Tackle" command