Teaching your dog a command requires love, patience, and repeated effort, and the roll over command is no exception. In order to teach your dog to roll over, it is necessary that you spend a block of time (a half hour is preferred, but whatever time you have is better than no time at all) practicing, several times per week. Be sure to stock up on plenty of training treats, as you will need to reward the behavior on the spot when he does roll over!
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Assume the Position
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Start by having your dog in the down position (lying with his belly on the ground). It is necessary that your dog know the down command before you attempt to teach him the roll over command. If your dog knows the play dead command, use that instead.
Eyes on The Prize
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After your dog is in the down position, take one of his favorite treats and make sure he sees it. Now, move the treat behind him so that he must turn his head and body to the side in order to see the treat. His eyes and body will follow the treat until he has unintentionally rolled over.
Reward the Behavior
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After your dog has rolled over, give him the treat. Be sure to give him praise when he rolls over, as you want him to understand that the behavior is what earned him the treat. It will take patience, and it may take repeated attempts to get your dog to understand the roll over command, but he will gradually learn.
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