How to Teach Your Dog to do a 360 Spin Using The ‘Spin Command’.

Spending time playing with your beloved dog is a thoroughly rewarding experience for you both. Apart from games like ‘Fetch’, there are a number of fun activities you can involve your fur baby in a playful manner, that will help to build a strong and positive bond between you both.
Most of the basic commands and advanced dog training commands we’ve covered so far, are primarily used for control and used in public places, but there’s a number of dog tricks you get your clever canine to perform for you and your friends’ amusement too.

This fun dog obedience training article will teach you how to train your dog to spin in a circle, 360 degrees, using the ‘Spin Command‘ by utilising positive reinforcement training techniques.
After teaching the roll in one direction, we’ll reverse the roll in the opposite direction, just for the fun of it.

The following list is what we recommend you have handy for this dog training command session:

• Small sized, soft treats that are very tempting
• Clicker
• Quite place, lounge or floor

If you don’t have, or prefer not to use a ‘clicker’, you can substitute it by using the word ‘Yes’, which I prefer to use, simply so you don’t have to constantly carry the clicker around with you.

Steps to Teaching the ‘Spin Command’

Before we get started, it’s worth clarifying what we’d like from our dog after using this instruction.
Once your dog is standing next to you, or slowly walking forward in the ‘Heel’ position, you want to be able to get your dog to spin around a full 360 degrees, ending up facing forward, next to you again. Next, we’ll add a figure 8 walk through your legs, just because it’s fun and your pooch can!

When teaching this dog training command, I’m going to assume you’ve already taught your dog to ‘Stand’ and ‘Heel’ successfully.
If not, you’ll find a link to these, and all the other commands listed in the article ‘List of Dog Commands‘.

1/ Ask your dog to ‘Heel’, walking slowly by your side. Have a handful of treats in your closed right hand and one in your left.

2/ Place your left hand with the treat exposed just above your dog’s nose and move your hand ‘slowly’ in a loop so they follow it.
This is easiest to do for your dog if they are slowly walking, as opposed to start standing still.

You want your dog to want to follow the treat all the way, so his/her whole body turns in a circle for this dog trick, therefore make sure the treat is a tasty one.

3/ As soon as your dog has completed the 360-degree turn, ‘mark’ the event by saying ‘Yes’ as you reward with the treats from the other hand, followed by praise ‘Good Boy/Girl’ and some ear rubs.

4/ Repeat these steps 3 times, or until your clever canine turns in a circle smoothly.

5/ Now it’s time to introduce the verbal ‘Spin Command’. As you repeat the above steps, say ‘Spin’ as soon as your hand starts to move.
Repeat this 5 times.

6/ Next, introduce the hand signal at the same time as saying the verbal cue, which is the same motion you’ve been using, but instead of using the treats in your hand, close to your dog’s nose, step away from your dog about a metre.
The treats should only be in your right hand now, which you give on each successful revolution. Keep repeating this step, gradually moving back further, until you’re 2 metres away.

7/ To mix things up, change direction of the spin.

8/ Finally, repeat the above steps, but without using treats as part of the reward. Still continue with the praise and the ear rubs, which will be more than enough reward when said using your proud happy voice!

Let’s have a lot more fun by teaching your dog to perform a figure-8 walkthrough between your legs.

The steps are the same as above but hold one tempting treat in your hand and pass it to the other hand, behind your leg as your dog walks through your widened stance, following the treat with his/her nose.
After a few times using treats, use your hand without the treat, and as always reward with love!

This dog trick is all about the fun, so when talking to your dog you should be using your happy voice, amped up bordering on excitement.
Every time my owner does this with me, he laughs, which I love, making me want to keep doing it until I get giddy with excitement.

Summary of How To Teach Your Dog The ‘Spin Command’

Remember consistency, practice and patience are the keys with all dog training. This dog trick is all about the fun, so when talking to your dog you should be using your happy voice, amped up bordering on excitement.

Note: This dog trick can be performed on or off a leash, especially one that has a spinning clasp at the end but is easier without.

Some dogs that aren’t overly motivated by food treats (rare) will almost certainly take to cooked chicken pieces. However, I would strongly suggest finding a commercial option from pet shops that will entice because apart from the expense, chicken is messy and doesn’t last very long out of a sealed container in the fridge. There are many brands and flavours to choose from these days, and many are made with healthy natural ingredients. I would also suggest using and rotating several different types, so your dog doesn’t become used to just one.