Who does not love having fun with a new puppy? Who does not enjoy watching their dog do new tricks? We all love a cheerful and enthusiastic puppy to brighten up our day.
When the dog completes some new trick or command we feel satisfied and successful. Thus, teaching a dog to roll over might be a challenging but very rewarding task that can be completed through several training sessions. Most dogs enjoy doing these tasks, so you should start training as soon as possible.
This article will help you achieve your goals and teach your dog the roll-over command. Both you and your dog will be happy and ready for many new tricks to come.
What Is The Roll Over
The rollover is a trick in which the dog rolls its body all around. It is a fun and interesting activity dogs love doing. You do not need to be a professional dog trainer to teach your dog a full rollover.
The following step-by-step guide on how to teach your dog to roll over will help you start practicing with your dog and see results immediately.
6 Steps To Teach a Dog To Roll Over
Teaching a dog to master the roll-over command is an amazing chance to bond and have fun with it. Using these simple steps and tips your dog can quickly learn how to roll over in a couple of training sessions.
First Step: Find The Best Spot For The Training Sessions
You need to start the practice in a secluded and quiet place. Since this is new behavior and activity you need your dog’s full focus.
Animals, in general, can be easily distracted, so you try to make the training session in a quiet area. The dog will listen to your command and learn more quickly if it is not interested in anything else other than your words and praise
Second Step: Have Your Dog Lie Down
For this trick, you need to put your dog in a lying-down position with its paws resting on the ground. See if the dog tends to lean its body left or right. If it tends to pull its left leg out, it will probably roll over to the right side. Trying to make the puppy roll over to the other side will be difficult because of the pulled-out leg.
A dog rollover cannot be done if the dog does not know how to sit and lay down. This is why you should teach it how to sit first and only then attempt the trick.
Third Step: Offer Dog Treats And Hold Them In Front Of The Dog’s Nose
Take some desirable treats and hold them in front of the dog’s nose. Hold the treat close to the dog’s face. Hold the treat firmly with your thumb and forefinger. Always choose a healthy treat.
Now, carefully and slowly while still holding the treat close to the dog’s nose, make a circle with the treat. Make the circle in the direction you want your dog to roll over. The dog should not stand up, so if it does put it back to the initial position and begin again. Move the treat towards the dog’s shoulder.
The dog will most likely turn its head and then follow the treat lure. Always pull the treat all around so that the dog follows it and is forced to roll over. Again, do not forget to give it a treat and some praise when it makes a full roll circle.
Fourth Step: Use Dog Treats As A Reward
When the dog turns its head, praise it and give it the treat. Always praise it when it turns all the way around. Repeat this several times. Try to do the whole roll-over activity and train again.
If something goes wrong or your dog looks like it needs a break, try slowing down the hand movement. Make sure the dog understands the roll-over command, because even though it looks fairly simple the dog may get stuck in a particular level and not be able to move on.
Fifth step: Repeat The Activity Without Using Dog Treats
If you managed to get your dog to roll over anytime you used treats, try to level up and practice by doing it with an empty hand. Act as if you had treats in your hand, and do the same hand movement as you did before.
The moment your dog starts rolling over praise it and take a treat from nearby to reward it. Repeat this step until you train the dog to follow your hand although you have no treats in it.
Clicker Training
Clicker training could be used as an addition to the treats you offer. This is a training activity in which the dog associates the clicking sound of the clicker, the rolling over, and the treat. (*)
Sixth Step: Start Saying The ‘Roll Over’ Command
If you reached the sixth step of the rolling training, it is time to use the ‘roll over’ command. If the dog seems to be consistently rolling all the way around, it is ready for a verbal command.
First, say loudly ‘roll over’ pause, and then do the hand signal to follow the dog through the whole rolling over. The verbal cue is important because this is how the dog associates the trick with your command.
You could try using the verbal command with the hand signal simultaneously.
Dogs need praise, so do not forget to end the training session on a positive note and add a treat too.
To teach a dog to roll over immediately, practice this a couple of times, until you are sure that the dog rolls over before you give it the hand signal. Practice and train the dog until it is rolling over only with your verbal cue and some other commands and no longer waits for your hand movement.
Seventh Step: Practice A Full Roll Outdoors
How to teach a dog to roll over might seem easy indoors, but is it easy outside? To teach a dog to roll over outside might be challenging since dogs are easily distracted. Dogs are interested in everything surrounding them, so do not be surprised if your dog loves watching other fellow animals, objects, and vehicles more than your training trick sessions.
What you could do in this situation, is to make your dog lie down and begin with the treat offering again. Most dogs love treats very much, so the treat might motivate your dog to take a break from the surroundings, sit in position and start training again. Reward the dog again.
Once the treat does its job, slowly stop using it and go with the verbal command instead. These tips on how to teach your dog to roll over could be executed by someone else to see if the dog has mastered the rollover.
What To Avoid During The Training Sessions
There are certain things you need to avoid when you want to help your dog roll over. (*)
- If you notice that your dog begins to lose its focus, give it a break. Very long teaching sessions can be exhausting and draining for the dog.
All of its body parts, including the shoulder, the head, the nose, and the belly are involved in this trick, so giving it a rest is crucial for the success of the exercise. The trick will be easily performed if the dog’s shoulder, head, or belly are in perfect condition.
Let the dog lie down and rest its head after every 10 minutes or so. The rest is a reward of its own. - Consult your vet. Make sure the dog is physically able to do the rollover. Some dogs with head, skeletal or muscular issues should not be allowed to try the rollover trick.
- Avoid practicing in a cluttered place full of things. When you teach a dog to roll over the space needs to be comfortable and tidy. Do not use a couch/bed for teaching, because an inexperienced dog could fall over and hurt itself. Find a suitable floor because your dog might not like a firm, uncomfortable floor and might resist practice regardless of the treat you offer.
- The treat you offer has to be catchy enough but also healthy. Avoid giving unhealthy treats.
- Give a break and reward and avoid practicing if you notice any soreness.
- Avoid raising your voice to the dog. Always end on a positive note.
- Avoid spanking or hitting your dog. This will only make the dog fear you instead of listening to you. Furthermore, you may end up with your dog hating you.
- Remove balls, chairs, toys, other pets, and other people from the practice spot.
- If your dog refuses to exercise, do not force him into it.
- Always practice from 10 to 15 minutes. Avoid longer sessions. They are boring and exhausting for the dog.
- Avoid using the same starting position. Always try using different positions for your command.
- Avoid going too fast. If your dog seems confused or jumping around, go back a couple of steps to the step when the dog was doing it correctly.
FAQs
When Should You Teach Your Dog To Roll Over?
You could teach your dog to do this once it has learned how to sit down and lay down. Sitting and laying down can be learned while the dog is still young, around 9 weeks. However, the rollover is a much more complicated task so give it more time to grow up. You could start at about 11 to 12 weeks of age.
How To Do The Hand Signal For Roll Over?
There is nothing complicated with the roll-over hand signal. All you do is keep your hand at your waist height. Then, point out your finger. Finally, make a full circle motion with your finger.
Can You Teach A Bigger And Older Dog To Roll Over?
You can teach your older dog to roll over only if your veterinarian agrees. And the vet will agree only if the dog is in good physical condition. Yet, do not be surprised if your senior dog is not as light and quick moving as it once was. Instead of ending up discouraged, you could try some different trick other than the rollover.
Can Your Dog Learn The Roll Over Without A Treat?
Although the treat is very helpful, some owners want to teach their dogs without using it. This is possible but will require much more hard work because the treat is the key motivator for any dog activity. The moment they see the treat they are willing to do anything to get it.
So, you could avoid the treat and start by using the verbal commands as well as the hand movements, but expect to face a rather challenging job.
Is The Roll Over A Hard Trick To Teach A Dog?
The rollover is not as simple as the laydown and sit-down tricks. However, it is not an impossible task. Roll over is not as complicated as the ‘walking backward’, the ‘use the toilet’, or the ‘skateboarding’ trick. Practice always makes perfect, so make sure to practice consistently to see quick results.
Conclusion
Teaching a dog to roll over can be a fun and amusing activity if you are patient enough to practice with your dog and reward any improvement and success. Although you might find it tricky in the beginning, you will feel content and proud of your dog afterward.
Follow the above step-by-step guide and you will see results very soon. Make sure you have everything prepared for the training session. Do not feel bad or discouraged if your dog is not a quick learner because not all dogs are the same. Always have patience and suitable treats to offer your dog.
Always avoid negative reinforcement and praise your dog. This is an amazing opportunity to bond with your dog and provide it with mental and physical stimulation. Therefore, find the ideal environment and start practicing with your pup.
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*photo by Wirestock – depositphotos