How to Teach a Dog to Roll Over

Teaching your dog how to roll over is an exciting thing because of the fun that comes with it. Apart from that, it gives you complete control over your dog and strengthens the bond between both of you.

Fortunately for you, it is the simplest of all tricks. You do not need a magic wand to make your dog roll over. With the right amount of effort and training, you are good to go. Given that, the following must be done to make teaching your dog how to roll over a possibility.

Steps for Teaching a Dog to Roll Over

Train in the Ideal Environment

First of all, to teach your dog how to roll over, you need an ideal environment with little or no distraction. In other words, that means you need a safe arena that is devoid of noise for you to train your dog. The size of where you intend to train your dog must be big enough to move around freely without any form of obstruction.

The location must be suitable for training to be an ideal environment. That is to say, the environment’s temperature must be average, and it must be well ventilated.

Doing away with all forms of distractions is another way to make it friendly. You can also take breaks, and treat and reward your dog regularly. But before all that, you need to be prepared by preparing what is required of you to make the training a success.

Command your Dog to Lie Down

After looking for and providing an ideal environment for you to train your dog, commanding your dog to lie down is the next step on the list.

To do that, you need to draw your dog’s attention to yourself. Drawing your dog’s attention is easier than you think. With the right bait, you can lure your dog with a treat to do whatever you want. To get your dog into a sitting position using the bait, you need to hold a treat in front of its face.

After that, slowly lower the treat down from your dog’s face to your dog’s chest. When you do that, your dog will lower its head to follow the treat. From there on, move the treat down towards the floor and say the word “down.” Once you master commanding your dog to lie down, making him roll over is a step away.

Hold a Treat in front of your Dog’s Face

Once your dog is in a sitting position, the next thing you need to do is to hold a treat in front of your dog’s face. The treat can be a toy or anything tasty. As long as your dog likes it, you are good to go.

A dog’s sense of smell is its most powerful sense. There is no doubt. So to make your dog do your bidding, hold the treat directly in front of your dog’s nose and slowly move it.

Move the Treat Toward your Dog’s Shoulder

After you’ve called your dog’s attention to the treatment you are holding, you need to move the treat. With that in mind, move the treat very slowly towards your dog’s shoulder, and make it long for the treat.

When you do that, your dog will turn its head and follow your lead. Once it turns its head, repeat the process again and again for it to follow the treat while lying down.

Praise your Dog and Give it the Treat

Complete the process by praising your dog and giving it its deserved treatment.
You can praise it by patting it, rubbing its head, and doing what it likes. Apart from that, reward it by giving it the treat for a job well done.

Practice Frequently, and Assist When Necessary

They say practice makes perfect. That is to say; you need to practice with your dog frequently and assist when necessary. When you do it without time and season, it will become part and parcel of the dog.
With that in mind, frequent practice can go a long way in making the job easier for you.

Start Using the “Roll Over” Command

Teaching your dog how to roll over is not complete until you use the words “roll over.”
But before you say the words, you need to hold the treat in front of your dog’s face. After that, move the treat slowly towards its shoulders as you say the words ” rollover.”

Once your dog rolls over, repeat the process repeatedly, say “roll over,” and give it a treat.

Stop Using the Dog Treat

To cap it all, stop using the dog treat to lure your dog into rolling over. As much as it rolls after hearing “rollover,” it has successfully mastered the trick.

If your dog does not roll over, after saying ” roll over,” repeat it until it does. When it finally rolls, praise it and give it a treat.

Practice Outdoors with Distractions

After you stop using the dog treat, practice outside with distractions.
Practicing outside with your dog will help it focus better and follow your command where they are distractions.

When teaching a Dog to Roll Over, which should be Avoided

Out of a long list of trick training, teaching your dog how to roll over is one of the most exhilarating exercises. But as exciting as that sounds, people make more than a few mistakes when teaching their dogs.
Given that, the following must be avoided when teaching a dog how to roll over:

• The first of them all is the lack of consistency. When teaching a dog how to roll over, consistency can go a long way in making your dog master the trick. You must train your dog consistently to avoid confusion and other unhealthy traits.
• Apart from that, avoid repeating words repeatedly if your dog doesn’t respond at once. If you say the words “rollover” three to four times before responding, make sure it responds once.
• Another thing to avoid when teaching your dog how to roll over is impatience and the use of harsh discipline. Also, do not forget to check with your veterinarian before teaching your dog the trick.
• Most dogs have the intelligence of a two-year-old. That means it will take time for them to inculcate a particular habit. Given that, patience is required when teaching them. Do not rush and force it. Also, harsh discipline and yelling at your dog should be avoided.

What you need to Teach Roll Over

Teaching your dog how to roll over is easier done than said. But to make the job easier, you need these tools.
To teach your dog basic commands and rollover, a clicker can go a long way in helping you do so.

Clicker training uses positive reinforcement to mark your dog’s behavior with a given sound, telling it you like what it did. The clicker releases a sound of approval exactly when your dog does what you want.

That being said, every click must be followed by a treat to fast-track the training. Over time, the use of clickers has produced commendable results. You can also make use of rewards to motivate your dog and also to fast-track the training. Whenever your dog does the right thing, it deserves a reward. Those rewards serve as a boost and keep it going.

FAQ About Teaching A Dog To Roll Over

Is Roll Over hard to teach a Dog?

No, it is not. Rollover is a fascinating trick to teach your dog. Guess what? The good news is that it is easier than you think.

Once you get your dog into a sitting position, hold a treat in front of your dog’s face. After that, move it slowly towards your dog’s shoulder. Praise it and give it the treat if it follows you. If it does not, repeat the process over, over, and over again until it does.

You have to be free to practice it and assist when necessary frequently. That is not all. Start using the “rollover” command and stop using the dog treat as when due. Don’t also forget to practice outside without distractions. When you do the above, you are good to go.

How long does it take to learn to Roll Over?

The duration of time for learning a rollover is not fixed. Even if you have 10 minutes, you can teach your dog how to roll over. Although it takes time and consistency to perfectly master the trick, ideally per day will do if time is not on your side.

What is the easiest trick to teach a Dog Roll Over?

From holding a treat in front of your dog to practicing outside with distractions, all the steps are easy. They are all easier than you think. Once you follow the necessary steps, teaching your dog how to roll overcomes in handy and is accessible.

Conclusion

Dogs are cute and lovely creatures. As pets, the relationship between them and humans is cordial and close in many ways. Given the above, teaching your dog how to roll over is one of the cutest things to do when you are alive. The good news is once you follow the above steps, you can also train your dog for Westminster Show.