Now that you and your dog have begun your glorious adventure into the world of tricks and treats, you and your fur baby may be looking for a new maneuver to master. One of the fan favorite dog tricks to teach your canine companion is the “Rollover technique.”
Before starting this intermediate training technique you should make sure your dog can successfully perform the “Sit Technique.”
As mentioned in the first edition of Tricks for Treats, positive reinforcement and encouragement is the ideal method for getting your pet used to new movements and associating them as a correct behavior with a reward and a click with your remote. The more experienced dog trainers don’t always need the dog training clicker but for beginners and novice trainers it is recommended. Make sure you have your Dog Training Treats, and Dog Training Clicker available for this next technique.
When starting this technique it is important to use the same method of guiding with the treats and making small movements.
Step 1: Ensure your dog is in the down position, this can be achieved by holding the treat and moving it downward. This will bring them into a natural position for beginning this trick. You can provide them a treat while they are in this down position, and hit your clicker.
Step 2: While in the down position it will be important to figure out which position your dog feels most natural turning their hips. It may be easiest to start with the side in which you are feeding the reward treats. When holding the treat in front of their nose, move the treat closer to your canine’s stomach allowing them to turn their head. When you start to see this action you may reward the behavior and click.
Step 3: Bringing your dog farther at their own pace is important so they are having fun, bonding, and making sure they are recognizing the trick. Once your dog’s head can turn and try to guide them farther by having them start lifting their paws in the air. Repeat this step with treats and clicks with the more paws that they lift in the air.
Step 4: Once your dog is automatically responding and associating lying on his/her back with a treat it is now time to complete the movement. Repeat the same steps and when lying on their back bring the treat above their head and guide their head to the opposite side guiding their head until they follow with a complete rotation back into the down position.
Step 5: Practice makes perfection, the more natural this technique becomes you can start to associate voice commands with the dog training clicker and the reward.
Thanks to McCann Dog Training see the below video to give you a visual representation on how to position your dog into the down position, and acclimate them into the rollover technique.
-Video Courtesy of McCann Dog Training–
Happy Trick And Treating Everyone, and stay tuned for more Dog Parent Academy Training Tips!
Feel free to drop a video or picture on our Facebook Page or our Dog Parent Academy Community of your dog rolling over!
