I am constantly hugging Boogie, so it’s about time he returned the favor. That’s why I taught my dog how to hug. It’s a fun, cute, and easy trick for your dog to learn.
Read on to find out how we taught Boogie a new trick, and how it’s easier than you probably think it is. Let’s start!
Please excuse Boogie’s sock, his paw is hurt!
Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Get On Their Level
Find a surface where you and your dog are on the same level, by either sitting or kneeling. This could be the floor, a stoop, or on the couch like us.
Step 2: Hands in Position
With a treat in your palm, place your hand behind your head and around your neck. If it’s easier, you can also just place your hand behind your neck (and not around).
Step 3: Just a Taste
The treat will lure your dog in, and they will attempt to grab it. Allow your dog to nibble on the treat to get them in position just over your shoulder, and then finally give them the treat as a reward. Repeat this a few times.
If you’re using a clicker, make a click every time your dog comes into position on your shoulder. If you don’t have a clicker, no worries, the treat is enough.
Step 4: Add the Command
After a few repeats of the previous step, add a command to it. I said the word “hug” and then gave Boogie the treat. Repeat. Increase the duration by treating your dog only after they hold the position for a few seconds.
Step 5: Remove Your Hand
Once your dog is consistently performing the behavior, say the command without placing your hand behind your head. Once they do it, give them the treat. If your dog won’t “hug” without seeing your hand cue, repeat the hand signal again but for a shorter length of time and continue to reduce the duration of the hand signal until your dog can do the trick with just the verbal signal.
Voilà!
Your pup will be hugging you in no time. This is a great trick to teach your dog if you love hugs, or if you want to prove to friends that your dog loves you more than their dog loves them. Only dogs who love a lot give hugs!! ?
Extra Tips
- Keep it fun! Stay positive, so training is a fun exercise that both you and your dog look forward to.
- Training sessions should be short and sweet, so no one gets frustrated or bored.
- If your dog doesn’t get it, no worries! Boogie isn’t a quick learner. We usually have to try a trick a few different times before he masters it.
- Use small treats when training, so your dog doesn’t fill up on snacks. We take our regular dog treats and break them up into even smaller pieces.
- Training your dog provides intellectual stimulation for them, and strengthens your bond! It’s a win/win.
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72 Comments on “Teach Your Dog to Hug”
I always wondered how to do this! So cute I’m going to learn this with Maggie and Orbit
I would like to teach my Boston’s how to bow. I think it would be so cute.
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Our dog is blind now, but one trick I would like to teach him is to balance something on his nose.
My Megumi actually DOES hug me (especially when she wants something). I would love to get my boys, Kenji and Seiji, to hug, too.
I would like to teach our dog to heel.
I would like to teach Dexter how to roll over
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I would like my girl to fetch her kong toy at treat time.
Would like to teach them to hug.
I really want to teach him to roll over, he will be one on the 19th and he has been really great with training.
i would like to teach my girls to weave between my legs.
The Broke Dog wrote about that trick!
fetch
This is adorable, I will have to try this trick with my dog Myla!
I’d love to teach mine to stay. He gets so excited but we’re working on it.
I would like to teach Gunner how to roll over
My dog passed in June of 2017. I miss him dearly. I was always happy with the tricks that he did know. My favorite being kisses and high five.
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My Peachies really smart! I want to teach her how to fetch MY items, not just her toys!
I would like to teach my dogs to pick up their toys and put them back into the basket
Haha this is a good one!
I want to teach them to sit and stay.
Would love to teach my Roxie how to crawl
I would love to teach my dog to pick up her toys.
I would like to teach my dog to army crawl.
I would love to teach my dog to high-five me!
I just want to teach her STAY. She is wild and crazy. UGH
I would love to teach my dog how to use the toilet!
I would like to teach my dog to play dead.
I’d love to teach my dog to lay down. She’s great at sit and stay. For some reason I can’t get her to lay down
We had this same issue with Marcelo! Our trainer had us put a flat dog bed on the floor and he learned it in no time. Turns out he just didn’t want to lay down on the floor ?
I would love to teach my dog to fetch!
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I’d like to teach my hound “leave it” when she sees other dogs.
We are working on having her ring a bell to be brought outside.
Teaching dogs to hug is cute. I love sitting on the floor and giving my dogs big hugs…and since I’m their mom, they like it. Strangers on the other hand…LOL!
My dogs would like to learn how to give hugs.
Pugs have my heart! I love them so much
Me too ?
My sister would like to teach her dog to take treats gently from her hand rather than grab them 🙂
Looks very doable. My dog is so treat motivated I’ll be curious to see if she just jumps over my shoulder to over-perform!
Too cute. Wanna teach my dogs to speak.
That is one of the cutest tricks ever!! I would teach my cat to fetch. Our last cat fetched balls on his own just like a puppy!
I always try to follow this site for learning something new. Thanks to sharing something new tricks about pup hug. I have little affordable morkie and I wanna try to apply this tricks. But my little cute not response. It still claim down and quite.
I would love to teach my dog to hug.
OOO…I want to teach my dog how to hug! He already snuggles by placing his head under your chin. This is great!
To play dead!
I would love to teach my dog to leave it. He’s stubborn and LOVES his food!
I want to teach otter to play dead
I would love to teach my pup Buster to hug.
i would like to teach my dog to shake hands
I really would like to teach my pups to roll over. They can do other tricks like pros, but for some reason, anything that involves them getting on their back is the worst thing ever? I gues??
I want to teach Luma shake paws!
How to roll over.
I would like to teach my dog to roll over.
I wish I could train my dogs not to stare when we eat.
I would like to teach my dog to roll over and play dead.
I want to teach my dogs to shake hands with me.
I’d like to teach my dog to carry objects to me.
Tiny is an older dog now very reliable and sweet. I would love to teach her to dial 911 in case of fire or another emergnecy.
I would like to teach my dog to roll over.
I taught mine to give hugs a while back, but I can’t seem to teach him to roll over correctly. Thank you for all the great info and the awesome giveaway!
I’d like to teach my dog June Bug to close the door after she opens it!
I’d love to teach my dogs to hold something in their mouth and to ring a bell.
I would love to teach my dog not to jump up on people.
Teach my dog to jump through the hoop.
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So cute!