How to Teach a Dog to Roll Over

“Roll over” is a cute trick that is easy and fun to teach your dog. It is helpful if your dog knows the “down” cue before you start teaching this trick.

• Ask your dog to perform a “down” position in front of you.

• Kneel beside your dog and hold a small, yummy treat to the side of their head near their nose.

• Move your hand from their nose toward their shoulder, luring them to roll flat on their side.
• Try this a few times and praise and treat each time they follow the treat and lie flat on their side with their head on the floor.

• Now continue the movement of your hand, holding a treat, once they are lying flat, from their shoulder to their backbone. This should cause them to roll onto their back.
• Continue the moving the treat hand so they roll onto the other side.
• When they are consistently following the treat all the way around in a “roll over,” add the verbal cue “Roll Over.”
• Gradually reduce the hand motion and treat lure, until your dog can perform the trick on just a verbal cue.
• Remember to still praise and reward your dog’s hard work!