How to Teach a Dog to Crawl

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

The crawl is a fun, low-profile trick that looks like a soldier moving under barbed wire. It is also a good test of your dog's patience and your precision.

Before you start

Teach a solid down first. See how to teach a dog to lie down. Choose a soft surface, because rough ground can scrape elbows and chests. Have small, soft treats that your dog can eat quickly while lying down.

Method 1: lure along the floor

1. Ask your dog to lie down.
2. Hold a treat right at your dog's nose.
3. Slowly move it forward along the floor, a few centimeters.
4. As your dog slides forward, keeping the elbows and belly down, mark and reward.
5. Gradually lure a little farther before rewarding.

Method 2: use a bridge

Sit on the floor with your legs bent and knees up, creating a low tunnel. Lure your dog under your legs. Because the tunnel is low, your dog cannot stand up without bumping. Mark and reward each step. A low table or chair can also work. Make sure it cannot fall.

Add the cue

When your dog crawls reliably, say "crawl" just before luring. Over time, use an empty hand lure, and then a hand signal such as a flat palm moving forward along the floor.

Build distance

Increase the number of steps gradually. Reward after two, then three, then five. Keep the movement slow, because speed encourages standing.

Common mistakes

• Holding the lure too high. Dogs stand to reach it. Keep it at floor level.
• Moving too fast. Slow movement keeps your dog low.
• Using a hard floor. Elbows hurt. Use a mat, a rug or grass.
• Asking for long crawls too early. Build steps slowly, and rest between attempts.

Troubleshooting

• Your dog stands up. Go back to shorter crawls. Reward earlier.
• Your dog rolls onto a hip. Lure straight forward, and reward when the dog stays square.
• Your dog loses interest. Use better treats, and keep sessions to a few minutes.
• Your dog drags the belly in pain. Stop, check for skin or joint problems, and consult your vet.

Joint and comfort check

Short-legged and long-bodied breeds may find the crawl awkward, and large breeds put weight on their elbows. Watch for limping, reluctance to lie down or sore elbows (callus or redness). If these appear, stop the trick. See how to trick train an older dog.

Related tricks

• Play dead
• Weave through legs
• Roll over

A sample plan

• Day 1: Lure two or three steps from a down.
• Day 2: Use the bridge.
• Day 3: Add the cue.
• Week 2: Fade the bridge and add distance.

Making the crawl smoother

A good crawl is slow and flat, with the elbows and hips low. If your dog scoots with the hind end high, reward only the moments when the whole body is level. Use thin, soft treats that can be held in a closed hand, so you can feed without lifting the lure.

Watch your dog's skin, especially on short-coated breeds. Repeated crawling on rough ground can cause sore elbows and chest scrapes, so practice on grass, a yoga mat or a thick rug. Keep each session to a few minutes with plenty of breaks, and finish with an easy trick your dog already knows. If your dog seems reluctant to lie down in the first place, check for pain before pushing on.

The takeaway

Keep the lure low, move slowly and protect elbows. Crawl rewards patience with a striking trick.