Do you have to master teaching your pet to roll on its back? No, of course not. However, is it not one of the most adorable dog training tricks? Yup!
This is the best method for both of you to enjoy fun for fun’s sake. It’s also the perfect way to wow everyone who follows your dog.
The rollover dog trick may seem complicated; however, the key to its success lies in dividing the trick into smaller simple steps that are easy to accomplish.
Why Teach a Dog to Roll Over?
Anything training that you do with your dog will benefit your relationship. Dog-friendly and positive movement creates a common language and lets your dog experience more freedom. It’s the best way to build your relationship. Training can be enjoyable for both sides of the line if done correctly.
The best thing for you and your dog is the art of trick training. The pressure goes away when you’re practicing tricks. Yes, your dog must be able to recall the tricks and have a dependable “stay” to help keep him safe and secure, but it doesn’t matter whether his “spin” is sloppy or his “wave” isn’t perfect. The most important aspect of learning tricks is that ” brain training” is among the most effective ways to tire out your active puppy, and teaching your dog tricks is fun.
Roll Over Dog Trick: Before You Begin
Your puppy will spend time in front and behind as you learn this trick. So, choose a cozy place. A calm, the carpeted area is the best. The dog will get plenty of treats during the first phases of learning. So, make sure you’re stocked with small (about the same size as fingernails), high-value treats.
It’s beneficial to utilize a clicker while practicing “roll over” because things are swift, and behaviors that your dog is likely to exhibit may be difficult to identify. Using the marker word “yes” can also bridge your dog’s success toward the reward food.
How to Teach a Dog to Roll Over: 6 Easy Steps
A fun and unique method to teach rollover can be “shaping,” which breaks down a complicated behavior into smaller, manageable steps that make it simple for your pet to become successful.
Imagine it as the classic game of “hot and cold.” The marker will inform your dog that you’re “getting warmer,” rewarding him for his efforts and making him less likely to quit. Instead of recording the entire behavior immediately, the shaping process allows your dog to receive treats that are a little of the final product. If you use shaping, you develop the behavior gradually until you’ve got an adorable dog rolling over.
Below are some steps for training your dog to roll over:
The first step is to Engage your dog in the “down” position by using an incentive to encourage him to lay his stomach in the dirt (asking for”down” or “down” turns the rollover technique into a two-step method). Place the treat on your dog’s nose, slowly moving it down and between his front feet. Dogs are already comfortable with this motion and will settle down quickly.
Step 2. While your dog rests on his stomach on the ground, be sure to watch for any movements that seem to be small. This is when you need your dog to become inventive. He’s still determining what you expect from him, but he’ll continue experimenting with different ways to earn a reward. Any gesture, from a paw to a head bob, may signal that the process is beginning. Process of rolling, therefore mark these movements with either a clicker device or marker and then reward them with treats.
3. Once you’ve had a few times of making sure you reward and mark the movement your dog makes, hold back until you are waiting for your dog’s behavior to change into something else that is more evident (if you continue rewarding the same behavior, the dog won’t move his paws since they are “working” to get a reward). Therefore, if your dog was making a paw wiggle, you didn’t mark and reward the gesture. You’ll probably be frustrated there’s no reward and might try something new such as scooting his shoulder to say, “Don’t you see what I’m doing?” You can mark and reward the new behavior several times and then wait for a more significant or noticeable behavior to replace the behavior you had to reward.
4. The first time your dog moves between one body part and the opposite and back again, the middle part of the trick to roll over deserves the most significant celebration. Make sure you record the moment your dog’s body is moving and reward it with a reward, but throw it a few steps away, so your dog is forced to stand up and devour it. Then, you’re all set to repeat the entire process, though your dog is likely to go through the process faster this time. However, it’s normal to experience stops and restarts initially and don’t be shocked to find your dog needing to refresh his memory before you can repeat the entire sequence of rolls once more.
5. It’s ideal to be patient until the behavior has been refined before introducing the cue. When your dog can master the steps, you can start adding a word to the procedure, which implies that you can quickly move from a standing position through the rolling sequence. To trigger the command he’s doing, you can use the cue word “rollover” right as you’re doing it, then make a mark with the clicker or phrase, and then offer him an incentive. This will create a connection between what your dog’s engaging in and the trigger that causes it. Repeat this process 12 times, repeating the word each time your dog engages in the behavior to establish the link between the command and its behavior.
6. Do the test without a preamble once your dog has made the connection, and request your dog to lie down. Expect a huge celebration the first time your dog completes the entire sequence. Expect loads of treats and a lot of praise.
Other Tips to Get Your Dog Rolling Over in No Time
Be aware of your body language when you practice this behavior. If you’re teaching it by sitting on the ground, your dog may be unable to comprehend what you want and what is expected of him when you tell him to roll over when you’re standing. Start teaching next to your dog’s ground, then switch your position to standing until your dog gets comfortable.
A small treat to lure your dog to the entire rolling sequence is a viable option (envision placing the pleasure up to your dog’s face and making the circular motion). Still, most pet owners find that dogs are masters of contorting and tend to focus on food more than their bodies’ movements, which can slow down the process. Certain dogs can grab the treat without rolling over tiny pups. This could cause frustration for both the teacher as well as the student! The use of shaping in teaching the rollover trick lets your dog choose the pace and be rewarded promptly for making the training process enjoyable.
Tricks such as rollovers may seem absurd. However, there are actual benefits that go beyond the obvious. Giving your dog space to think of new ways to shape and work as a group will increase your bond and bring you two together to be an instant hit whenever you’re in the presence of an audience.
