How to teach a dog to roll over and play dead is a trick that can be difficult to teach for people who are not used to training dogs. This particular trick is more challenging when the dog is young as it has not developed the skills that are required to teach him how to do it correctly. This kind of dog trick is quite similar to learning to walk on a lead but it will require much more patience and time than walking on a lead. Dogs are very persistent animals and they will often try to teach you something even if they know it is not a good idea. Here are some dog training tips on how to teach a dog to roll over and play dead.
The first thing to keep in mind is to use a verbal cue. Your dog should understand the command you give him over time. You do not want to use the verbal cue too early or you will lose the ability to train your dog properly.
First of all, begin by holding one of your dog’s treats near his nose and lightly patting his nose. Your dog will most likely turn his head towards you with some warning signs. When he does this, start by giving him the verbal cue “roll over”. When he rolls over slowly, reward him with a treat. If he attempts to reach for the treat, gently push his face away until he calms down.
Once he understands the verbal cue, you can move on to the actual training. Start by taking two treats and approaching him from behind. Give him the treat and praise him. This is the same as laying a treat on a surface, waiting for him to reach for it and then rewarding him for reaching for it.
During this time you can place the clicker close by but not in sight. Slowly move it to his side and quietly click the clicker as soon as his hind end touches the clicker. The dog should quickly follow your instruction and lift his rear on command. Be careful to watch him closely to see if he is turning his head this way and not his front. Continue repeating the process and quickly winning more treats. Be sure that you never get the dog to lie down or even stand when you click, though.
Once he understands the verbal cue, you can start using other methods to train him. Start by having your dog lie down next to you on the ground and then, using a treat, give him the verbal cue “roll over”. Start at one side of his body until he has the entire body turned over. Reward him verbally for standing up.
If you do this trick several times, your dog will understand what you want him to do. As he progresses, he will begin to understand that he gets a treat for standing up. Soon, he will learn that each time he rolls over means another treat. He will continue to earn treats as long as he performs the trick correctly each time.
When he understands the verbal cue, you can try using a clicker to reward him. Begin by having your dog on all fours and then, at his command, have him stand upright. Click the clicker and immediately have him stand still. Reward him verbally for standing still. If you are indoors and can’t use the clicker, just use your voice to emphasize his position until he stands still.
