How One Owner Taught Her Cat Five “Dog” Tricks in a Short Training Session

An Instagram clip posted by @doobsterooni shows an orange cat named Doobie performing five behaviors commonly associated with dog training. The routine is compact: the owner issues a cue, uses a clear hand motion, and delivers a squeeze-up treat as an immediate reward. The whole sequence demonstrates that cats can learn simple, discrete commands when the cue-reward relationship is consistent.

The video presents five commands in quick succession:

• Sit: The owner raises one finger and Doobie drops into a seated position, then gets a treat.

The routine uses three straightforward elements: a short verbal or visual cue, an accompanying hand motion, and an immediate food reward. The squeeze-up treat is both the lure (for stand and spin) and the reinforcement (after each command). Hand position differentiates similar behaviors: a downward palm requests a paw shake, while an upright palm requests a high five. The sequence shows how small, consistent differences in cueing can produce distinct responses.

The clip provides a practical example of cat training that prioritizes brevity and clear contingencies. It illustrates that cats can be taught to offer specific behaviors on cue when the owner pairs a distinct signal with a reliable reward. The session stresses short, repeatable interactions—single cue, single action, immediate treat—rather than long training drills.

Comments on the post show enthusiasm. One viewer asked where to adopt a cat like Doobie, and other reactions praised the cat's responsiveness. The engagement suggests people find the combination of approachable techniques and clear results appealing.

• Use an easily dispensed, high-value reward that your cat will work for and that you can deliver quickly.
• Keep cues distinct: slightly different hand shapes or positions can signal different behaviors even if the requested actions are similar.
• Short sequences with immediate rewards reinforce the cue-action link more effectively than long sessions.

Doobie's routine shows that basic obedience-style behaviors typically associated with dogs are teachable in short, clear training exchanges with a cat. The combination of consistent cues, visible hand signals, and immediate food reinforcement is the core method on display.