Trick Challenge – Take a bow

A bow is when your dog drops its front legs to the floor while keeping its back end up — a playful gesture many dogs naturally offer during play. Teaching your dog to bow on cue is a fun way to build body awareness and add some flair to your training sessions.

There are two main ways to teach this:

Capturing the behaviour

Many dogs naturally bow when they’re playing or trying to get your attention. This is the perfect moment to teach the trick.

Have your clicker and treats ready.

When your dog bows, click or say “Yes!” to mark the moment their elbows touch the floor, whilst their back end stays up. Reward in position — ideally, place the treat between their front legs to give value to the posture.
Repeat over several sessions, then add your verbal cue: “Bow!”

Luring the behaviour

Some dogs don’t offer a bow naturally, so luring can help.
Start with a high-value treat in your hand, close to your dog’s nose. Slowly lower your hand toward the floor and slightly back between their front legs, encouraging your dog to follow. As soon as they lower into the bow position, mark and reward generously.

Practise this several times, then introduce the verbal cue “Bow” once they’re consistently offering the behaviour.

Progressions to try once your dog knows the bow

• Bow while you’re standing instead of kneeling.
• Bow in different environments (garden, park, training venue).
• Bow during a lead walk.
• Bow when your back is turned (a fun challenge!).