Easy Steps to Teach ROLL OVER

Uses:  A classic favorite for showing off, Roll Over is also useful in teaching your dog to be comfortable while lying on his back, which can come in handy for health care or grooming.

1. Using food as a lure, have your dog lie down in front of you.  You may want to sit or kneel on the floor.

2. When your dog is in the down position, move the lure slightly to the left or right of your dog’s shoulder, depending on which hip your dog favors lying down.  Click and Treat when your dog shifts his weight.  (If your dog doesn’t follow the lure you may be moving it too fast.)

3. Again have your dog lie down and lure him to shift his weight.  This time  keep moving the treat over your dog’s head until he begins to go onto his side, Click and Treat.  Continue gradually moving the treat farther and farther until your dog is completely on his side.

4. Now you will lure your dog onto his side and continue moving the treat until he has to roll over onto his back, Click and Treat.  Continue moving the treat further until your dog will follow it into a complete roll over.

5. Fine tune your dog’s roll over Clicking and Treating for faster roll overs and fading the lure.  When the behavior is perfected add a voice command such as Roll Over.

Related Behaviors/Tricks/Variations:  Down, Roll in the Opposite Direction, Play Dead, Upside Down (lie on back)

Easy Steps to Teach BOW

Uses:  Bow is a fun and easy trick which can be used to reduce stress when your dog is uncomfortable or nervous, as a warm up training exercise and to loosen up your dog’s muscles before exercise.

1. With your dog standing in front of you, hold a treat in front of his nose.

2. Move the treat straight towards your dog’s paws.

3. As your dog’s nose follows the treat he will start to lower his body, Click and Treat.

4. Move the treat further, Click and Treat your dog for lowering his body further.

5. Continue luring your dog as in the previous steps.  This time, however, don’t Click and Treat until your dog’s elbows touch the ground.

6. Perfect your dog’s Bow then add a voice command such as Bow, Curtsy or Stretch.

Easy Steps to Teach WEAVE (between your legs)

Uses:  This is an impressive looking trick which is fun for your dog to perform and helps build flexibility.

1. Start with a treat in both hands and your dog on your right side. Place your left foot as far forward as comfortable.  Extend your left hand under your left thigh so your dog can sniff the lure.  When your dog moves toward the lure Click and Treat.

2. Continue luring the dog from this position in small increments until your dog will move under your left leg.  Repeat this until your dog is easily moving from your right side under your left leg.

3. Now with your dog on your left side repeat steps 1 - 2 in the opposite direction.

4. Now combine steps 2 - 3 Clicking and Treating for one full weave (once under both legs).

5. Perfect the trick by extending your legs less, asking for a faster weave and fading the lure (not all at once though - remember the Four D’s!).  Once your dog will easily move between your right and left legs it is time to add a voice command such as Weave, Zigzag or Be a Cat.