Teach Your Dog to Sneeze on Command: A Hilarious Party Trick

Before you embark on this sneezing saga, you’ll need to gather a few simple supplies. The good news is, you probably have everything you need already! The key to this trick is timing and high-value rewards, so make sure you’re prepared to be quick and generous with the praise.

What You’ll Need:

• High-Value Treats: We’re talking about the good stuff! Small, soft, smelly treats work best because they’re quick to eat and extra motivating. Think tiny pieces of chicken, cheese, or your dog’s absolute favorite store-bought training treats.
• A Clicker (Optional): A clicker is a fantastic tool for marking the exact moment your dog performs the desired behavior. If you’ve never used one, now is a great time to learn! If not, a consistent marker word like “Yes!” or “Good!” said in an upbeat tone works just as well.
• Patience and a Good Sense of Humor: This is the most important tool in your kit. Training takes time, and this trick relies on you being ready to reward a completely natural, spontaneous behavior. There will be a lot of waiting around, so stay positive and enjoy the process!

A Crucial Word on Safety: It is extremely important to state that you should NEVER try to induce a sneeze in your dog. Do not use pepper, dust, or any other irritant to make them sneeze. This is not only unkind but can also be harmful to their respiratory system. The entire point of this training method is to capture a behavior that your dog does naturally. We are rewarding a sneeze, not forcing one.

The foundation of this trick is a training technique called ‘capturing.’ Unlike luring or shaping, where you guide your dog into a position, capturing involves waiting for your dog to offer the behavior on their own and then rewarding it. For this trick, you are literally waiting for your dog to sneeze.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become a Sneeze Detective. Keep your treats and clicker (or marker word) on you at all times. The moment you see your dog sneeze, you need to act fast.

1. Observe Your Dog: Pay attention to when your dog is most likely to sneeze. For many dogs, this happens during play (play sneezes are a real thing!), when they first wake up, or when they get a little dust tickle in their nose.
2. Mark the Sneeze: The *instant* your dog sneezes, click your clicker or say your marker word (“Yes!”). The timing here is critical. You want to mark the action of the sneeze itself.
3. Reward Immediately: Right after the mark, give your dog a super tasty treat and lots of verbal praise. “Good boy, what a sneeze!”

Repeat this process every single time you witness a sneeze. It might take a few days or even a week, but your dog will start to make the connection: ‘Hey, every time I do that nose-exploding thing, I get a piece of chicken!’ You’ll know you’re on the right track when you see your dog start to offer a sneeze intentionally to see if it earns them a reward. This is the ‘Aha!’ moment you’ve been waiting for!

Once your dog is reliably offering sneezes to get a treat, it’s time to put this amazing new skill on cue. You need to associate a word with the action. Choose a short, clear cue that you don’t use in everyday conversation. Fun options include “Achoo!”, “Sneeze!”, or “Gesundheit!”

The process of adding the cue is all about timing. You want to say the word right before the behavior happens, so your dog learns that the word predicts the action (and the subsequent reward).

1. Anticipate the Sneeze: By now, you might notice your dog has a ‘tell’ right before they offer a sneeze—maybe a slight head dip or a nose wrinkle. This is your window of opportunity.
2. Say the Cue: Just as your dog is about to perform the sneeze, say your chosen cue word in a clear, cheerful voice. For example, as you see the nose wrinkle, say “Achoo!”
3. Mark and Reward: The moment they sneeze, mark the behavior with your clicker or “Yes!” and then deliver the treat.

Keep practicing this. Say the cue, wait for the sneeze, mark, and reward. After many repetitions, your dog will build a strong association between your word and the action. The goal is to eventually be able to say “Achoo!” and have your dog sneeze without you having to wait for them to offer it first.

This is the final polish! Your dog knows that sneezing earns a reward, and they’re starting to connect it with your verbal cue. Now, it’s time to transition from capturing the sneeze to asking for it on command and practicing it in new environments.

Testing the Cue

Try saying your cue word when your dog isn’t already about to sneeze. If they sneeze (or at least make a solid attempt), throw a party! Give them multiple treats, tons of praise, and a big hug. This is a huge breakthrough! If they don’t respond, don’t worry. It just means the association needs a bit more strengthening. Go back to Step 2 for a few more sessions before trying again.

Generalizing the Behavior

Dogs don’t always generalize well, meaning they might think “Achoo!” only works in the living room where you always practice. To make this trick party-ready, you need to practice it everywhere.

• Start in different rooms of the house.
• Move to the backyard.
• Try it on a quiet walk.
• Finally, practice with a few distractions, like a friend or family member present.

Each time you change the environment, you may need to make it a little easier for your dog to succeed. Keep training sessions short, fun, and always end on a positive note. Before you know it, you’ll be able to ask for a sneeze in the middle of a family gathering and watch as your brilliant pup delights the crowd.

Sometimes, even with the best plans, you hit a little snag. Don’t get discouraged! Dog training is about problem-solving. Here are a few common issues and how to work through them.

‘My dog just never sneezes! How can I capture it?’

Some dogs are less sneezy than others. Try to identify any potential trigger. Does a bit of fluff from a toy ever tickle their nose? Do they sneeze after a big drink of water? Many dogs perform ‘play sneezes’ when they are getting excited and ready to romp. Engaging in a fun game of tug or chase might be just the ticket to get that first sneeze to capture.

‘My dog is just jerking their head instead of a real sneeze.’

This is actually a great sign! It means your dog is trying to figure out what you want. They’ve realized the reward is connected to their head/nose area. This is called a ‘superstitious behavior.’ To fix this, simply stop rewarding the head jerks and wait for a more convincing sneeze. When you get even a tiny ‘pffft’ of air from their nose, reward that heavily to let them know they’re on the right track.

‘The trick was working, but now my dog won’t do it.’

This is common in all trick training. The novelty might have worn off, or they might be confused. Go back a step. Make it easier for them to succeed. Also, check your rewards. Are they still high-value enough to be motivating? Sometimes you have to bring out the extra-special treats to renew their enthusiasm.