- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Your dog’s ability to perform tricks can highlight the bond between the two of you, not to mention emphasize their incredible intelligence. “Roll over” is one of the many tricks a dog can learn, though teaching your dog to roll over may not be one of the first lessons in your training schedule.
This trick may take some time and effort to teach your pup, according to Steve Dale, certified animal behavior consultant. “Roll over isn’t something most dogs get the first few tries, so patience is important and so is consistency,” he says.
Rolling over isn’t just a fun trick to impress your friends with, either. Training your dog can have benefits for both you and your pup! Here’s how to teach your dog to roll over, with expert guidance.
Teaching Dogs To Roll Over, Step By Step
Dale shares these steps for teaching dogs to roll over:
Step 1: Use an extra tasty treat
This relatively simple trick won’t require many items, but you will need something to lure your dog with. Dale suggests using a special stinky treat or a toy to use as a reward when your dog performs the action you want.
Step 2: Teach the “down” position
“In order to roll over, the dog must first be in a “down” position,” Dale explains. “One way to do this is to use a treat and place it on the ground in your closed hand, luring your dog.” If your dog wants the treat, they can only get it by lying down.
You can also teach your dog the “down” cue by giving your pup plenty of praise and rewards when they lie down. Pair this with an excited “good down!” to reinforce the cue and the action.
Step 3: Teach “roll over”
With your dog in the “down” position, you can work on the “roll over” trick.
“If the dog even tries the slightest, reward and praise them with your excitement—first-time perfection is not required,” Dale says.
Break each move into smaller steps before teaching your dog how to combine them:
- Roll your dog onto their side: With your dog in a down position, move your hand (with a treat in it) from your dog’s nose to their shoulder. If your dog follows the treat, their weight will shift and they should end up on their side in order to get the treat. Mark the movement with “YES!” and release the treat.
- Roll your dog onto their back: Now that your dog is comfortable falling to the side, begin to slowly lure them onto their back by moving your hand over their head and towards their other side. To gain the treat, they’ll have to slowly roll onto their back. Mark and reward them with the treat every time they attempt to follow your hand and move onto their back.
- Roll your dog all the way over: Once your dog is comfortable moving onto their back, you can begin to lure them all the way over. Move your hand from their back to the other side of their body. Place the treat on the floor, slightly away from their nose, so they have to roll all the way over to retrieve the treat.
- Add in the verbal “roll over” cue: Once your dog can roll all the way over, you can add the verbal cue. Begin by saying “roll over!” and repeat the luring steps above until they have rolled over completely. “You might even gently move the dog over as you say “over” or “roll over,” Dale says.
- Fade out the luring treat: Try repeating the luring steps above without the treat, just with your hand and the verbal cue. Eventually, remove your hand cue until your dog begins to roll over with just the verbal cue.
Why Teach A Dog To Roll Over?
Benefits of teaching your dog the “roll over” trick include:
- Mental stimulation: Dogs tend to find work and challenges rewarding and satisfying. Many dogs were bred to work. If they don’t have regular tasks to perform, they can become bored and unhappy.
- Building a strong bond: Teaching your dog the “roll over” trick means spending lots of quality time with them. Learning and performing a trick together requires an understanding between the two of you, which can help strengthen your bond.
- Health needs: If your dog is familiar with rolling onto their back, you may have an easier time inspecting their body for signs of injury or illness or applying medications.
How To Teach A Dog To Play Dead
If you and your dog can master the “roll over” trick, they can probably also learn to “play dead.”
Playing dead is very similar to rolling over. Both tricks start by training your dog to roll onto their side by luring them with a treat.
The main difference for the “play dead” trick is that your verbal cue will be “Bang!” and you will pair it with your hand “gun” movement.
Troubleshooting Your Dog’s “Roll Over” Training
If you have followed the steps above and your dog doesn’t seem to pick up the trick, these troubleshooting tips can help:
- Slow the training process down: As with all training, follow your dog’s pace. Only go on to the next step when your dog has mastered the current step.
- Be consistent with cues and treat release: Reward your dog as soon as they perform the action you want them to. Keep your hand and verbal cues the same each time.
- Keep the training sessions short and fun: The training process should be enjoyable for your pup, so it’s best to limit sessions to 5 to 10 minutes each day. If you notice your dog getting frustrated, you can stop the session and try again at a different time. Don’t forget to always end on a positive note!
- Use high-reward treats: If the luring treats aren’t valuable enough to your dog, you may have a harder time getting them to roll over.
Can every dog learn to roll over?
Most dogs will eventually pick up the “roll over” trick, which can be fun and rewarding for you both. With consistency and patience, you and your dog can perfect the trick and even move on to playing dead.
That said, if you’ve tried troubleshooting but your dog still struggles with the trick, they may simply not feel comfortable rolling over—and that’s just fine!
Dale says some dogs may not feel comfortable lying down to perform the trick. It’s not a natural or easy trick for all dogs. Many toy dogs, for example, prefer not to lie down. Additionally, some senior dogs may find it painful to lie down.
If your dog doesn’t seem to want to roll over, it’s important to respect their needs and move on. Keep in mind, too, that dogs can sense your disappointment—which is why Dale emphasizes that it’s so important to avoid acting upset with your dog if they don’t get the hang of rolling over.
