If your puppy knows basic obedience, such as being able to sit on command, you can teach her to perform slightly more complex behaviors. Training your puppy keeps her mind active and can lead to a stronger bond between you, according to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Using treats as a reward makes the learning process more enticing for her. Being patient with your puppy and keeping training sessions upbeat leads to a more enjoyable experience for both of you.
Things You'll Need
- Treats
Instructions
Use the "down" command and reward your puppy with a treat when she obeys. If your puppy doesn't know this command, hold a treat by her nose while she sits, say "down" and slowly bring the treat toward the floor to encourage her to follow. Give her the treat when she lies down. It might take many repetitions before your puppy can follow the vocal command with the desired behavior.
Move a treat from in front of your puppy's nose to right above her shoulder to get her to roll to one side. If she doesn't roll at first, keep trying and praise her when she succeeds.
Hold the treat above your puppy's nose when she's on her side and move it sideways until she rolls over while following the treat. Give her the treat and praise as a reward when she rolls all the way over. Perform several repetitions and positively reinforce successful rolls with rewards.
Add in the vocal command "roll over" when your puppy lies down. Move the treat and reward complete rolls. After several repetitions, use the vocal command without moving the treat and reward your puppy when she rolls over.
Use the "roll over" vocal command without offering a treat and praise your puppy enthusiastically when she succeeds. At this point, you should be able to use the vocal command alone, but you can offer a treat reward from time to time to continue reinforcing this behavior.