Train Your Dog to Help with Household Chores

Imagine this: You’re relaxing on the couch, and instead of bending down to pick up your dog’s scattered toys, your well-trained pup trots over, gathers them into a bin, and sits proudly waiting for praise. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, with a little patience and the right training, you can turn your four-legged companion into a helpful household assistant.

Training your dog to help with household chores isn’t just about making your life easier (though that’s a nice perk!). It’s an excellent way to keep your dog mentally engaged, physically active, and deeply connected with you. Plus, let’s be honest—teaching your dog to carry groceries or close doors is a guaranteed way to impress your guests.

And while your dog might not be able to vacuum like a Roomba, they can certainly help keep things tidier in their own way!

So, let’s dive into how to train your dog to help with household chores and turn them into the ultimate furry assistant. Learning how to train your dog to help with household chores can make daily tasks more manageable and even fun!

Why Train Your Dog to Help with Household Chores?

Before we get into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” Here are a few solid reasons to train your dog to help around the house:

• Mental Stimulation – Teaching your dog new skills challenges their brain and prevents boredom.

• Physical Exercise – Many household tasks involve movement, keeping your pup active.

• Strengthens the Bond – Working together deepens trust and communication between you and your dog.

• Good Party Trick – Who wouldn’t want to show off a dog that fetches the TV remote on command?

• Cleaner Home – Okay, your dog may not mop the floors, but picking up their own toys is a good start!

The more you train your dog to help with household chores, the more useful and engaged they become in your daily routine.

Getting Started: Basic Commands and Training Tools

Foundation First

Before your dog can tackle advanced chores, they need to master the basics. If they don’t already respond reliably to these commands, start here:

• Sit
• Stay
• Come
• Drop It
• Leave It
• Fetch

These foundational commands will make learning more complex tasks much easier.

Training Tools

To make training sessions more effective, have these on hand:

• Treats – High-value treats work best.
• Clicker – If your dog is clicker-trained, use this to mark good behavior.
• Toys and Bins – For training pick-up tasks.
• Leash and Harness – Helpful for guiding them during the early stages.

The right tools make it easier to train your dog to help with household chores efficiently.

Simple Chores Your Dog Can Learn

Once your pup has a solid grasp of the basics, it’s time to start training them for actual household tasks. Here are some of the best chores dogs can learn to do.

1. Pick Up Their Toys 🧸

Dogs excel at making messes—why not teach them to clean up, too? Start by training your dog to retrieve one toy and drop it into a designated bin.

How to Train:

1. Place a toy in front of your dog.

2. Use the “fetch” command to encourage them to pick it up.

3. Hold a treat over the toy bin and say “drop it.”

4. Reward and praise when they release the toy into the bin.

5. Repeat with more toys, gradually phasing out the treat.

The more you train your dog to help with household chores like this, the cleaner your home will be!

2. Close Doors 🚪

If you’re tired of getting up to shut that slightly ajar door, your dog can handle it!

How to Train:

1. Place a sticky note on the door at your dog’s nose level.

2. Encourage them to touch it with their nose using the “touch” command.

3. Reward when they make contact.

4. Gradually shape the behavior by having them push harder until the door fully closes.

5. Add the verbal cue “close it.”

Teaching this skill is another effective way to train your dog to help with household chores and make life easier.

3. Help with Laundry 🧺

No, they won’t fold your clothes (yet), but they can carry small laundry items to the basket.

How to Train:

1. Start with a small towel or sock and encourage them to fetch it.

2. Walk with them to the laundry basket and use “drop it.”

3. Praise and reward.

4. Increase the number of items they carry over time.

With consistent training, your dog will learn how to help with household chores efficiently.

4. Carry Groceries Inside 🛒

Some dogs love carrying things, so why not put that enthusiasm to good use?

How to Train:

1. Use a lightweight, non-breakable bag to start.

2. Teach them to take the bag in their mouth using “hold.”

3. Walk a few steps while they carry it.

4. Reward when they successfully bring it inside.

5. Gradually increase the weight (within reason!).

Training your dog to help with household chores is not only fun but also a great way to enrich their lives and strengthen your bond. The more time you spend training your dog to help with household chores, the more valuable they become as a daily helper.

While they might not be making your morning coffee anytime soon, they can make small contributions that make your daily routine easier. Plus, let’s be honest—there’s nothing cooler than showing off a dog who can fetch groceries!

So, what household chore would you love to train your dog to do? Let us know in the comments—bonus points if it involves something fancy like making the bed or fixing breakfast (we can dream, right?). 🐶✨