How to Teach a Dog to Roll Over in 7 Easy Steps (Vet-Approved)
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You have taught your dog to sit, stand, lie down, and come cue. Now, what’s next? It’s time to bond with your cute little pup with a fun activity called “roll over.” Whether you have a small goofball or a large-sized dog, teaching them this trick always brings lots of laughter.
While rolling over may not be as useful as obedience training, it keeps your dog mentally and physically stimulated. Not only that, but it also allows them to relax and enjoy some time with their human parents. That’s especially helpful if you have a highly energetic dog.
So, are you ready to take over this advanced challenge with your pup? This step-by-step guide will help you easily set the trick and teach it to your pet. So, let’s dig in.
Preparations Before Starting the Roll Over Training
Roll over technique is all about having fun with your pet. So, to ensure that, never start training roll over without these important things:
Choose a Comfortable Training Space
The first thing you need to ensure is the comfort of your dog. If your pet isn’t feeling safe in their training area, they won’t be able to relax and enjoy themselves during the roll over activity.
The ideal training room must have sufficient floor space, as this activity requires the dog to move around quite a lot. Also, ensure there are no distractions in the area, such as other pets, toys, or other family members.
Believe it or not, training your pup in a comfortable space helps them learn the trick faster and more enjoyably. Once the pet discovers how to roll over at home, they will love doing it outdoors or in front of others.
Teach Your Dog How to Lie Down
The roll over trick requires your dog to lie down. So, teach them to stay on the ground on your command for extended periods. Otherwise, they will keep sitting or standing up during the training, making the process more challenging.
Your dog must know how to respond to your “lie down” command. If they prefer lying down on their side instead of straight, let them do that. It may help them feel comfortable in learning the roll over technique.
Ensure Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is always the key to teaching a dog a new trick. These pets love appreciation from their parents, especially if it includes their favorite treats. So, when training your dog how to lie down and roll over, you can offer them food items they don’t usually get.
Lean meat (turkey, chicken, or beef), ready-made dog treats, and cheese can be great options. Make their small portions so your dog enjoys them throughout the training session. Just ensure none of the treats contain too much salt or fat content, and cheese should also be a low lactose variety or they may do more bad to your dog than good.
The best way to use treats during training sessions is with a clicker. However, you may find your pet not responding to the clicks. That’s because they don’t even know what it is. Thus, you must clicker train first, so they’ll know that this noise is associated with a reward. If you don’t favor treats, you can praise your pup verbally too.
Once the dog understands that the click anticipates a reinforcement, then you can use it to mark the desired behavior. You will have to click the exact moment your dog exhibits a step toward the command you’re teaching them. These clicks will help them know that they have done good, and now their owner will give them a treat.
No matter what option you choose, never use aversives with your pet. Punishing or scolding your dog during training will instill stress or anxiety in them, making them scared even from the thought of rolling over. So, be gentle with your dog if you want quick results from your efforts.
The 7 Steps to Teach Your Dog How to Roll Over
Once you have ensured the above things, it’s time to start the practical work. Follow the below steps to begin teaching roll over to your dog while preserving its fun.
1. Command Your Pet to Lie Down
First, ask your dog to lie on the floor while resting on their stomach. Their head should be slightly lifted with paws in front of them. That’s the safest position for dogs to roll over, regardless of their size.
2. Bring in Their Favorite Treat
As your dog is lying down, you should bring in a treat and hold it close to their face so that they can see and smell it. Then, hide the treat immediately in your hands, so the dog won’t be able to snatch it before completing their training.
Now, stand up and move the treat close to the pup’s head. Their nose will follow the treat as you rotate it over their head. Soon, their body will follow their nose.
So, move the treat in the direction that makes your dog roll over. When they’re about to roll over, say “roll over” in a loud but friendly way to let them learn the meaning behind this command.
If you don’t want to use treats, you can use your hands as the signal to roll over. The tricky part is to make your dog associate the verbal command with the physical roll over movement. Once your pet does it, give yourself a nice pat.
3. Help Your Dog
Your little goofball may need some help rolling over in the beginning. Use your other hand to give them a slight push if they seem not to get it right. This will clear your dog’s mind and tell them what you want them to do.
Repeat this step several times, as dogs learn by repetition. And remember that dogs are people pleasers, so don’t forget to reinforce them by praising them verbally in a friendly, excited tone, such as “Well done!” or “Good girl or boy!” Be sure that you’re offering them a treat, as doing so will motivate them to learn to roll over with more interest.
However, keep in mind that some dogs do get frustrated when they have to wait too long for the reward. So, make sure you set realistic goals for each session and set them up for success.
4. Include Reinforcement Variability
It’s not good to give treats to your dog every time they roll over. It will make them ask for it whenever they roll over, making them susceptible to obesity. So, include verbal praises in your reward system, and resort to gentle pats on their head instead of treats.
Whatever method you choose, remember to reward your pet right after they roll over. This will help them know that they are doing the right thing.
5. Practice Command Response
Practice makes a dog perfect. Don’t stop when your pup does the roll over one or two times with your help. Instead, keep practicing this technique until they learn how to do it without your assistance.
Over time, you will see your dog rolling over even when they haven’t seen a treat in your hand. All you will do is stand up and command them to roll over; they will do it instantly! The behavior is now under a signal or command cue.
Give them a gentle pat on the head, praise them verbally, and reward them with an unexpected treat here and there. Your pup will love it, and this will help to maintain the behavior’s value.
6. Practice in New Places
Your dog might be rolling over on your command, but they’re doing it in the comfort of home. At this step, you should introduce them to a new training space and try practicing the technique there.
It will help them disassociate the roll over trick from the previous training area, making them comfortable doing it elsewhere. If your pup loves to take on challenges, they will love rolling over in a different place.
So, start your roll over practice in the yard with the help of a treat. Then, do it without the treat. Once your pet looks comfortable, try moving to a dog park with plenty of training space and distractions.
Remember, some dogs may take longer to adapt to this new environment. So, be gentle to them and don’t hesitate to use a treat as long as it is healthy.
7. Train Around People
The last step in mastering the roll over trick is practicing around others. Doing so will help your dog get used to humans. In fact, they will love the extra praise and attention from people.
You can also train your little pup to roll over upon other people’s commands. If they roll over instantly, know that you have done your work and your dog has mastered this technique. Give your pup a high-five!
Conclusion
Whether you have a Golden Retriever or a Poodle, every dog breed loves spending time with their owners through fun exercises. You may have taught your dog the basic commands of sitting, standing, and lying down. But they aren’t as entertaining as rolling over!
To teach your dog to roll over, you must first choose a comfortable training area and train them to lie down. Treats play a major role during roll over training, so make sure to have some healthy ones on hand.
You must try a combination of verbal and physical praises to reward your pet when they do the trick the right way. Just be patient with your little pup and you will see them learning to roll over in no time!
Featured Image Credit: GoodFocused, Shutterstock
