Teach Roll Over and Play Dead

Choose a comfortable, non-slip surface, such as a rug or a bed, and a time when your dog is relaxed and has not just eaten. These tricks need your dog to be calm, and lying on the back can be a vulnerable position. Make sure your dog already knows down, and is comfortable with handling.

Prepare small, soft treats, and keep your movements slow. If your dog is stressed, stiff, or avoids the position, stop and try another trick. A dog who feels safe is much more likely to enjoy learning.

Roll over is a full rotation, from lying on one side, to the back, to the other side. Teach it in stages.

1. Ask your dog to lie down, and hold a treat near their nose.
2. Move the treat slowly toward their shoulder, so that their head turns and their weight shifts onto a hip. Reward when they shift.
3. Continue to lure so that they lie on their side, and reward.
4. Lure the head farther back, over the shoulder, so that they roll onto their back, and reward.
5. Continue the lure until they complete the rotation, and reward.
6. Add the cue roll over, and fade the lure into a hand signal.

Note: Go slowly, and reward each stage. Many dogs need several sessions before they roll all the way.

Play dead is the dog lying on their side, as though asleep, and staying there. It builds on a down, and on a side-lie, which many dogs already do when relaxed.

1. Ask for a down, and lure your dog's head toward their shoulder, so that they flop onto a hip.
2. Reward when they lie on their side.
3. Add a few seconds of stillness before rewarding, and say stay.
4. Add a cue, such as bang or play dead, as they lie down.
5. Gradually extend the duration, and add a release word.
6. Practice in different places, and with small distractions.

Some dogs dislike lying on their back, or have never done it. Others feel unsteady, or have a sore body. Do not force the position. Instead, reward small steps: a hip roll, a shoulder lean, a head turn. Build the behavior over many sessions, and stop if your dog seems worried or avoids it.

If your dog tenses, pants, or looks away, take it as a sign to slow down. You can also try shaping, in which you reward any movement toward the behavior and let your dog work out the rest, which often feels less pressured.

Avoid these tricks if your dog has a back, hip, neck, or shoulder problem, or if they are old and stiff. Check with your vet if you are unsure. Do not practice right after a meal, particularly with deep-chested breeds, which are at risk of bloat. Be careful with puppies, whose joints are developing.

Do not worry if your dog never learns these tricks. There are many other behaviors to enjoy together, and a happy, comfortable dog matters more than a trick.

Once your dog is reliable, you can link roll over and play dead with other tricks, add flair with a signal, and show friends. Keep rewarding, and never lose patience. The best tricks come from a dog who enjoys the game, and a handler who makes it fun.

Some dogs learn better by figuring out the behavior for themselves. In shaping, you reward tiny steps toward the final trick, and let the dog explore. For roll over, start by rewarding any head turn toward the shoulder when lying down, then a lean onto the hip, then a roll onto the side, and so on. Use a marker, such as a click or a word. Keep sessions very short, and stop when the dog gets frustrated. Shaping builds confidence and works well with dogs who dislike being lured.

If your dog stalls, adjust the approach.

• Dog pops up instead of rolling: lure lower and slower, and reward smaller steps.
• Dog rolls only halfway: reward the halfway point, then ask for a bit more.
• Dog looks worried: stop, and return to an easier step.
• Dog gets mouthy: use a lick mat or a small piece of food held still.
• Dog loses interest: use higher-value treats, and shorter sessions.
• Dog slips on the floor: use a rug or a mat.

When the movement is reliable, add a word, and say it just before you move your hand. Practice from different positions and rooms. Teach a release word, such as okay, so your dog knows when the trick is over. For play dead, add a stay on the side, and increase the time slowly. Always reward the final position, and be generous at first. Fade the hand motion gradually into a small signal.