How to Teach Dog to Roll Over

You might have trained your dog to lie down, stay, and sit and it is possible that you will be most pleased. But, wouldn’t it be better if you moved to more advanced stages in dog training now? One of the most loved and advanced tricks that a dog can perform is “Rollover”. This is an impressive-looking trick and contrary to popular belief it is pretty easy to teach. All you need to know are the basic steps involved in this process. If you are interested in teaching your dog the art of “Rolling over”, then you have come to the right place. You will find all the relevant steps involved in this process as follows:

Setting up:

1. The first thing that you need to ensure is that your dog knows about lying down. This is a crucial step and is a prerequisite for your dog if it is to learn about “Rolling over”. The dog needs to be lying down to perform this trick. So, the first thing that you need to do is teach your dog to lie down, if it isn’t familiar with this trick.
2. Now, keep some tasty treats on hand. Treats like lean meats, cheese, doggie treats, chicken, etc., or anything that your dog normally loves eating will do the trick. You should break up these treats into smaller portions so that they might last through the entire training session. It will also prevent your dog from becoming filled up sooner than you would want it to. Remember, a hungry dog is an eager dog and an eager dog will be more willing to undergo the practice you have in store for it.
3. Another thing that most people miss out on or ignore is the environment in which they train their dogs. A room that is comfortable and absent of any distractions provides for the most effective environment for dog training. You should try to use a room that offers plenty of space as the dog will have to be increasingly mobile during training for rolling over. Use a room in your own home as the dog will be more comfortable in its home. Once it has got the hang of the trick in familiar surroundings, it will also be able to perform the trick in outdoor settings as well.

Teaching your Dog:

1. Start by ordering your dog to assume the “lying down” position. The latter is necessary for your dog to learn about rolling over. Your dog should lie on its stomach, with its paws in front of it and its head lifted. It will then be ready to roll over easily and not hurt itself in the process.
2. Bring a treat near your dog’s nose by crouching down in front of its face. The dog should be able to see and smell the treat. Make sure that it doesn’t snatch the treat from you by closing your hand around the treat tightly.
3. Now, rotate the treat upwards and around the dog’s head. Just ensure that its nose is following the treat. You should rotate the treat from the dog’s nose in such a way that it follows the intended motion closely. Once your dog starts rolling, say “rollover” in a clear and commanding voice. Repeat this step several times daily until the dog starts getting the hang of it.
4. You should also be mindful of any difficulty that your dog might have in this regard. If your dog is nervous or just not rolling over, then use your free hand to gently nudge it in the intended direction. Also, remember to keep praising your dog loudly and encourage it as well. Do it the moment that it acts on your expectations for the best results. Don’t be excessively stingy with the treats as your dog might become irritated if you don’t feed it the treat despite its efforts.
5. Keep at this trick until your dog gets the hang of it. After all, practice makes perfect and this is especially true for this trick. Keep patting your dog on the head after a successful trick to reinforce its confidence and excitement.

Improving the Trick:

Now comes the part where you will have to improve the trick to an extent that can be considered immaculate. The main aspect here that is important is practice and more practice. You should repeat this process daily for about 10 to 15 minutes for the best results. You will know when you have perfected the trick if your dog begins to roll over simply at command, without the temptation of treats. It might sound difficult but with perseverance and consistency, you will be able to get the result that you want. This is important if you want to teach your dog to perform this trick in a way that guarantees longevity and permanence.

So, there you have it, the complete guide on how to teach your dog to roll over. Still, this guide leaves something to be desired, doesn’t it? There is after all no substitute for a proper teacher or trainer. The latter can effectively ingrain the teachings in your dog’s mentality. A trainer knows how to mold and properly train your dog. But another thing that is true about trainers is that they don’t come cheap. Hiring a trainer can be pretty expensive as their services don’t come cheap and for many of us, this is a discouraging point.

That is why you must give heed to the excellent opportunity that the program “Brain Training for Dogs” affords. This is a spectacular online program that contains all that you need to properly condition and train your dog. It outlines all the basics and advanced steps needed for caring, rearing, and training your dog. Some might even say that it contains more than you might end up needing. Nevertheless, if you want a program that can be highly instrumental in teaching your dog all the tricks that you want it to learn, then this is the one for you. We highly recommend “Brain Training for Dogs” and guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with the results.