How to teach a dog to roll over!

“Roll over” is a cute trick that is easy and fun to teach your dog. It is helpful if your dog knows the “down” cue before you start teaching this trick.

  • Ask your dog to perform a “down” position in front of you.
  • Kneel beside your dog and hold a small, yummy treat to the side of their head near their nose.
  • Move your hand from their nose toward their shoulder, luring them to roll flat on their side.
  • Try this a few times and praise and treat each time they follow the treat and lie flat on their side with their head on the floor.
  • Now continue the movement of your hand, holding a treat, once they are lying flat, from their shoulder to their backbone. This should cause them to roll onto their back.
  • Continue the moving the treat hand so they roll onto the other side.
  • When they are consistently following the treat all the way around in a “roll over,” add the verbal cue “Roll Over.”
  • Gradually reduce the hand motion and treat lure, until your dog can perform the trick on just a verbal cue.
  • Remember to still praise and reward your dog’s hard work!

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