Trick training your dog is fun and rewarding for both you and your dog. One of the most impressive and fun stunts that you can teach is the Roll over command. This can be as simple as a drop and roll, can be a partial roll that looks like playing dead or if the dog really likes this trick, they can do multiple rolls across a stage or for an appreciative audience. There are variations on this trick that are real crowd pleasers. Make it fun and you can even get the dog to roll for one command and lay belly up for another.

To get started with how to train a dog to roll over you need a reliable down command. This is the starting position for a roll over. I have walked throughhow to train a dog to down in another article. Follow the links at the end of this article for a good description for how to train the down command.

Get some treats that the dog likes, these should be soft and small so the dog doesn't spend time chewing these but gets instant gratification. With the dog in the down position and you on your knees facing the dog, take a treat and put it in front of the dog's nose. As it shows interest, move the treat back to the dog's shoulder. The dog's nose should follow the treat. When it has turned its head give the treat. You want the dogs nose to follow the treat under all circumstances. If the dog isn't following the treat find something that has a higher reward value. Perhaps some roasted chicken breast or fried liver bits.

Repeat the move with the treat, as you reach the dog's shoulder raise the treat over the dog's back. If the nose is following well this will make the dog lay over on its side. Treat when this happens. Get another treat and this time move it a bit furher until the dog is flopping over. This should happen pretty quickly if you have that nose following the treat. Some dogs will have a preferred side so if the move isn't having the desired effect, try moving the treat to the other side. Some dogs will go either direction and this can be developed into a roll one way then the other.

Teaching the roll over command should be fun for the dog. Try to keep your attitude happy while you are doing this training. Learning how to train a dog to roll over is a process, don't rush it, read your dog's reactions and move just as fast as it can handle. If your dog isn't enjoying the training, leave off and come back later. Above all keep it fun. You will have a much stronger relationship with your dog when you teach it this way.