Teaching Your Dog to Roll Over

Teaching Your Dog to Roll Over

Teaching your dog how to roll over is a classic dog trick. It is fun to teach with just a few steps, which we will list below. Get started so your four-legged friend can impress your friends and family!

You will need a few things before you teach your dog to roll over. Grab several pieces of a high-value treat, such as bacon. Ensure that you are in a quiet location so your dog can focus. Lastly, ensure that you are working on a comfortable and supportive surface. The goal is to provide support and traction for your dog as it rolls itself over.

Step 1. Cue your dog to lie down. Does your dog not know how to lie down? Use a treat in front of your dog’s nose and slowly move your hand backward toward your dog’s chest and down to the ground until your dog is in the down position. Praise and treat your dog.

Step 2. Is your dog in the down position? It’s time to use the high-value treat. Hold the treat to your dog’s nose, then slowly move your hand toward your dog’s shoulder. As your dog’s nose moves back toward its shoulder, its body will flop sideways. Praise and treat when your dog is on its side.

Step 3. Please keep your dog focused on the treat when they are comfortable following it. Slowly move the treat back toward your dog’s shoulder. When your dog’s nose is on the treat, its head and body will follow the treat. Your dog should follow the treat and roll over. Be sure to give lots of praise and treat your dog!

Step 4. It is time to introduce the verbal cue like “roll” when your dog is confident and will follow the lure and roll over. Say “roll” and praise and treat your dog as he completes the roll over.

Step 5. As your dog gets more confident with the behavior, phase out the treat and transition to a hand signal.

Following the steps mentioned above will take time and patience. However, it will be worth it when your dog learns its new trick!