Teaching Your Dog To Move Trick or Treat Giveaway
Is your dog ever underfoot or in your way and you accidentally run into him or her or even trip? Teaching your dog to move out of the way and to do so politely for you, the dog mom or dad, is a fun and bonding experience for human and canine. You will also impress people when they see your dog politely step aside when you say aloud, “excuse me.”
Just for stopping by and checking learning about this “trick,” we invite you to enter this year’s Trick or Treat Giveaway hop after you see Dexter work his trick magic. It’s well worth it because the prizes are:
Grand Prize: A $300 PetSmart® gift card
Second Prize: 14 bag assortment of Caru’s Soft ‘n Tasty Baked Bites and Baked Bars:
$100 Value: Sponsored by Caru®
Third Prize: 1 bag of canine beef lung treats + 1 bag of canine beef liver treats: $80 Value: Sponsored by Nature’s Logic®
Fourth Prize: Nice Mussels plus Wishes, Pecks (8 oz), Beams (7 oz), Quickies, and Smooches (16 oz): $72 Value: Sponsored by The Honest Kitchen®
Follow all bloggers on Instagram for for a chance to win a SPECIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PRIZE: $20 Gift Card to PetSmart + Custom Bow Tie from Brooklyn Bowtied
That’s almost $600 in prizes!!! Now, here’s how to teach your dog the “excuse me” trick:
Step One of Teaching Your Dog To Move
Promise yourself two things: You will have patience/never yell at or scold a dog AND you will try this is very short segments. Five minutes once or twice a day. I learned long ago from dog mom who has a trick dog that smaller bursts of trying something new is key AND you should always end on a positive note. Clap and reward your dog. You want the dog to feel good for doing this and not like a robot who must follow orders.
Step Two
Watch this video, as this is the end result and how weeks upon months of practice came to fruition. Listen as I say “excuse me” and my dog, Dexter, politely moves out of the way. I will say that when I am out and about with my dog, at expos, shows, shopping, or anywhere…people are forever asking me how he learned that. Keep watching and reading.
Step Three
If your dog is older or has no concept of what getting out of the way is…or maybe you say something else like “move it” or “beep beep,” then you need to take even more time with this. Shorter bursts, a minute here, a minute there. You simply want to reward your dog for moving when you say “excuse me.” Teaching your dog to move is the goal here.
Whenever you are walking and your dog is literally in your way, you must stop walking and say aloud your dog’s name accompanied by “excuse me.” So it comes out: “Fluffy, excuse me.” Sort of keep moving forward without crashing into your dog. The moment your dog is out of your way, you reward. He or she just won best in show. Celebrate like there’s no tomorrow. Mental confetti. You may want to carry a few of your dog’s favorite treats when starting out. You want the dog to know he or she just did something that merits a high value reward. Don’t randomly carry the treats if you aren’t planning to work on “excuse me.” For many dogs, their noses will seek out what’s lurking in your pocket and everything else is white noise.
That’s it. Teaching excuse me is very simple but you need to be consistent without being annoying and trying too hard. If your dog isn’t getting it or just simply is not interested, you do not want to end on a sour note. Have the dog do something that he or she is good at, no matter what it is, and then reward, clap, celebrate. The goal of learning anything new is to enhance the relationship between dog parent and dog.
Alternate Method
You can also put your dog in a sit-stay and then say excuse me and implement the same techniques above. You walk forward a bit, say excuse me in a happy voice, and when the dog ever so gently moves aside, you reward.
This is word and movement association. If your dog is hard of hearing, you can still teach “excuse me.” Click: how to teach a dog hand signals.
Enter to Win Prizes and Snag More Entries
And now some super fun for you and your dog! Prizes galore, as we shared above. Here is how to enter. Just go through the easy-to-enter form below and visit the different blogs listed for even more entries. Easy peasy, right?! If you visit each of the blogs, you can learn a new trick AND enter for more chances to win. Fun stuff! Give your pawsome dogs a scritch behind the ears from us and good luck!!!
USA and Canada only. PetSmart is not a sponsor of this giveaway, and the bloggers got together to purchase the gift card. The giveaway and hop are sponsored by Caru, Nature’s Logic, and The Honest Kitchen.
The other pet bloggers paw-ti-cipating are:
Trick or Treat Giveaway Hop – Fidose of Reality
Visit each blog for more chances to win!
Follow #TrickorTreatDogs!
Thank you. Once I’m home from work travel, the kids are learning this one. This has only recently become an issue with both boys. It’s usually both underfoot, because, you know, what one does the other must do, too.
Love your posts and great trick!
Seems like a handy trick! We don’t know it yet.
What a great trick and adorable dog. My son has taught our cat to sit and beg which is cute.
Don’t have a dog, so no. Cat person that’d love to win the Petsmart card. Any doggie treats would be donated.
When I taught my dog how to shake I had a handful of treats in my hand and made a fist, now he knows how to “fist bump” instead of shake, but close enough!
My dog know this trick and I actually teach it to some of the dogs at the humane society that I work at! I say excuse me.
My dog doesn’t know this trick
she knows this. it wasnt ever really taught but she has figured it out!
I remember trying to teach our dogs tricks. Some dogs were certainly smarter than others. Now we have cats!!
Shunta and my new furbaby Bandit can sit on command and Shunta can shake hands.
Yup! My dog Jasper Zen knows this and 100 more tricks!
Awesome post 🙂
Some of my dogs intuitively move, others don’t. I never really officially taught this to any of them.
My doggie know this and a bunch of tricks! Go smart doggies go!!
this is a great skill to have! i trip over her ALL THE TIME!
Yes we say move please!
I have never thought about this trick! It would be wonderful for my boys to move when I ask them to.
I live in such a teenie tiny studio that Layla is normally lying on the bed or her bed or box as there is no place to move here
my oldest knows lots of tricks, she was a very fast learner, the 2 younger girls know a few, it takes time and being consistent to train to do tricks. my oldest could prance, roll over and play dead, dance, shake, etc. the 2 younger girls just do the normal ones, except the youngest can talk and curl up her lip. i used treats and worked with them on a daily basis. i need to work more with the 2 younger girls.
Good trick, we haven’t tried this one yet.
We don’t know it yet but this is a handy trick!
Not really, but that’s an excellent thing to know!
Imagine 3 dogs always underfoot! Actually, two are the worst. Our golden Sheba is just always lying in the most traveled paths around the house. If Luke is facing me, I can at least use “beep beep” with him to get him to back out of the way. I look forward to working on this one, because it is much needed around here! I bet people are very impressed to see it too!
She doesn’t know this trick but I think I should teach her! This seems really handy! I have found so many tricks I want to teach her from this blog hop already!
lol my dog definitely doesn’t know this one or he does and just doesn’t want to do it! lol
I love this trick, and will be starting to teach it tonight!
I couldn’t love it more that you taught your pup that trick. That is fantastic! I wonder how this would go with my cats… lol
Ah, I am in love with that doggy! I have two wonderful dogs and they mean the world to me. This is a great giveaway!
When I am in the kitchen, my dog is always under my feet. I worry that I will step or trip over her all of the time. Of course she is hoping I will drop a goodie, but I am busy hoping I will not step or trip over her. I really need to work with her
My husband and I are convinced our dog Red will kill us one day. Great tips and your dog is too cute for words!!
On the couch, I say “move over” and she does it, so maybe this can be turned into a trick!
I never though about teaching the pups excuse me as a trick but what a great idea! Nala moves out of the way automatically but I think Cody’s sole purpose in life is to trip people so this will be a great trick to teach him.
My dogs know to move when we say ‘excuse me.’ It’s so funny. They pop up. I thought it was a nicer way to say ‘get out of the way.’ 🙂
Never dawned on me to teach the dogs this trick. Thanks for sharing.
Yup! Sometimes we just have to look at him and he will move with a giant sigh.
This would be a new trick to learn, but a good one!
I have 3 dogs and none of them know this trick. I’m going to start working on teaching them right away — they are always in the way and under foot.
Our dog did not know this trick. I taught her to give the paw, sit and rollover all through bribing her with treats. Your dog is so cute!
you are one smart dog mommy. What a great and MUCH needed trick. I am going to start teaching this now!
I am in the process of treating mine this now, since we just rescued her a few months ago. I say “move” not “excuse me”, but wish I had thought of that before I started, it’s so cute. I’m using pretty much the same method though.
This is awesome information!
We don’t know this one yet but he more or less gets out of the way on his own.
Josie is so tiny she is afraid to get stepped on so she is never under foot.
I tried to teach my dog to do this trick but he is so stubborn! If anyone has a boxer, you know what i am talking about!
I’m entering to win the gift card for my sister, who is a cat lady! I’m not sure her cats know any tricks, beyond driving her crazy.
Nope, my dog does not posses this trick.
My dogs don’t know this as a trick exactly, but through just day to day life learning, they know “excuse me” means to move.
My dog does not know this trick.
My dogs haven’t had a chance to learn any tricks yet
He does not know this trick, his only tricks are sit, shake and get your pillow.
yes my dog knows this and your dog is so so so so cute
My dogs do not know this command. I will be working on it though.
I laughed reading this! I have cats and they answer to no one! If I had a dog I would totally use these ideas.
I love this! I wish I could teach my cat this, he’s always in the way or under our feet! And thanks for the giveaway.
Eh…. my dog sorta knows it and it wasn’t taught to him. Never taught it to any dogs that I’ve ever had. They always learn it on their own.
this is adorable. my pooch does this but I didn’t realize this was a trick.
Rolly knows no tricks. He is my dumb dumb friend.
She doesn’t move out of my way on the floor, but she will move out of the spot I want to sit on the sofa. Nobody really formally taught her this, she just leaned by repetition I guess.
I haven’t officially taught this to Ruby and Boca but I do say “beep, beep” when they are in my path!
Coco doesn’t know Excuse me, but if we are in the car and she sits in my spot I will say scootch to her and she moves over to the seat. But feel free to teach her Excuse Me when you come over one day LOL!
I personally dont have a dog because my landlord won’t allow it, but I spend a ton of time with my mom’s dogs, and they know a few tricks… Mostly shake and roll over, her dog is 15 months old
Unfortunately my dog doesn’t know any tricks. I’ve tried to teach her several times in the past but she just doesn’t get it.
No, our dogs don’t know this trick/command either. I have a hard time training all the dogs together as I’m almost never one on one with them.
Wow, I need to teach this to Harley! We trip on him at least twice a day – especially when we are in the kitchen!
My dog came to us at 1 year old from a shelter. He had some bad habits, i.e. not coming when called. When off-leash in certain areas, he will respond to our “come” command. Other times, it’s like he is deaf!
I have taught my four cats to sit on command for a treat.
We are working on this “trick” now – I’ll be trying your method….sounds like it will work!
A useful trick!
Yes, he does.
Will be working with my dogs. Great info. You have a beautiful dog!
We use “beep beep” and our dog moves…for the most part! LOL. He does need to learn it better, as it was just something he learned by us moving him when we needed him to move out of the way.
My dog does not know this trick but I plan to teach it to him.
My dog does not know the trick.
No my dog does not know this. It is sure something I need to work on teaching him though
With a very firm “move”, both of my dogs will do so.
My dog did know this. But as she is now almost 17, blind, and nearly deaf, it doesn’t do a lot of good anymore. Thankfully, she is just a little 9 pound Dachshund, so stepping over her at this point is no big deal.
AWW HE Is so precious!! but no mine walks in front of me
I guess saying excuse me is much more polite! I say LOOK OUT! LOL.
Yes, my dog does know “Excuse Me” and I did teach it in a similar way. 🙂
I think that Jack could learn that fairly quickly. Thanks for the tips.
He don’t know this one yet.
I can say from experience that this is a great command for your dog to know. My dogs know “move over” and “back up”, both come in very handy.
Thanks for inspiring people to teach their dogs something new & useful! And thanks for the giveaway! Great article!!
I know my dogs would do well with this they usually do stay out of my way but being able to do it as you did would be great to do too.
No our dogs don’t know this I’d love to teach them.
All my dogs know how to move on command.
My dog did know this trick. I didn’t teach it to him he just learned it throughout the years.
Oh that is so precious! Our dogs do not do many tricks, just the regular sit. Still working on Stay…been a couple years and is not going really well. LOL I will have to work more on it!
that is a great and very useful trick ! I will practice this one with YoYo. thanks!
My dog does not know this trick.
That’s awesome and SO polite. We learned beep-beep in training class and have used that, but I like this one! Both my dogs LOVE to be in the kitchen, especially when it is their dinner time. Sampson will just lie on floor, and you can easily step over this, but Delilah has to follow everything you do!
No, my dog doesn’t know that trick. Would come in handy though. Thanks for sharing.
Besos Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
My dogs respond to me saying move. I’d love to teach them “Excuse Me”.
If I say Excuse me enough times my dog will move but I wouldn’t say she really knows this trick! Will have to work on it, thank you!
I get my dog to move by cuddling with her. As an anti-snuggle dog, this trick works like a charm! No treats needed! ?
My dogs don’t know this trick, but it would be good for them to learn. Even more, I need to teach my cats to move on command. My daughter’s cat, Arata, is much smaller than my dogs (he’s a little over 10 pounds while the dogs are 65-78 pounds). I often can’t see him in the dark or when I’m carrying in groceries. I’ve almost stepped on him numerous times and while I wouldn’t want to fall myself, I’m more worried about hurting him. The dogs are big enough I can see them – but they can be idiots and just block my way when I’m carrying groceries or baskets of laundry.
Lucy knows this one already! “Scoot.” The cats know it as “scat!” Good trick.
My dog somewhat knows this trick
We are working on this trick. Haven’t got there yet. Treats will help!
Wish I could teach mine something….lol
My dog doesn’t know this trick.
Nope, they don’t… so cute!!
All my dogs know Excuse Me. Never really taught it, they just picked up on it naturally.
My dog does know “move”. It’s been so long (she’s going on 12) that I don’t really remember how I taught it to her. She picks up on words pretty easily.
My dog doesn’t know this trick. I have a 4 year old Boxer, & she’s really hyper and gets excited easily.. so sometimes she has difficulty trying to pay attention long enough to learn tricks lol.
He does know this trick but I don’t know how he was taught because we adopted him and he already knew it.
My dog likes to be thisclose (not a typo to be missing a space there!) so she frequently gets told to move if she “forgets” she is not supposed to be underfoot in the kitchen or is generally being a pest.
OMG my 115 lb Choc Lab always stands in my way and it can be frustrating! I will try this technique asap!
Great trick 🙂
No my dog doesnt know this trick
We do not know this trick but are currently working on it:)
My dog moves so much-I wouldn;t know if it’s a trick or not!0–haha
What a cutie! My big boy knows this trick for some reason but I swear I can’t remember actually teaching him! Dogs are so smart!
No dog, I’d love to win the gc and any dog treats I win will go to local shelter. I’d love to teach my cats that!
Very cool trick! My shih tzu doesn’t really get underfoot, but my great dane is always in the way. I say ‘back it up’ and she moves. I like the ‘excuse me’ better though!
This would be a gift for my friends dogs to share. They know many tricks!
My dogs only know to sit and they do that when they want to lol. I think it is cool the way they taught them
Never heard of this trick will have to try it.
She does know this trick. Dexter is adorable, those eyes.
No to this trick too…lol
Yes, my dogs know this command 🙂 We have tight hallways in our house and have practiced with them in real time LOL They are very good at getting out of the way when we say move now.
My dog is working on this trick. She’s a timid rescue but smarts and wants to do well.
Yes my doggy knows this!
Bo will move if said enough. He can sit and shake. Also he can stand up and give you a hug.