How to Teach a Dog to Roll Over: 5 Simple Steps

One of the most highly requested tricks, teaching your dog to roll over is a fun and playful way to master a new command. Any time you teach your dog something new, you’re building a bond and keeping them sharp by helping them to learn. Dogs of all ages can safely follow this command and be on their way to a cute new trick.

Should You Teach a Dog To Roll Over?

Teaching your dog to roll over is a great way to be playful, keep your dog active, and give them a chance to show off their stuff. While some tricks should be reserved for fully developed dogs, roll over is safe for puppies and grown-up pups! Teaching your dog to roll over can also be helpful if you need to get them to lie on their back, like if you need to take a look for a possible injury or even during a vet examination.

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How to Teach a Dog to Roll Over in 5 Simple Steps

Before you teach your dog to roll over, you should know a few things ahead of time. Teaching certain commands ahead of time, being aware of surroundings during training, and following the right sequence of steps will have your pup performing “roll over” before you know it.

1. Teach Your Dog the “Down” Command

Mastering other simpler commands first will make teaching your dog to roll over much easier. The most important of these is the “down” command. Giving this direction lets your dog know you want them to lie down on the floor, which is the first motion necessary for learning how to roll over.

2. Limit Distractions

Learning a new trick like roll over takes practice, patience, and concentration. Limiting distractions while training your dog to do new tricks or commands is a good way to keep them focused and able to master tasks more quickly. Try training at home in a quiet environment where there aren’t a lot of outside stimuli — like other cute dogs or people out and about — that might distract your hard-working pup.

3. Start With Hand Motions and a Lure

Giving a visual cue helps send the right signal to your dog and guide them to the behavior you’re looking for. You can use the same hand motion you’d use to give the “down” command to start the process of having your dog roll over. After that, either point or cup your hand in the direction of their shoulder and rotate it about halfway, letting your dog know they should move their body the same way. The lure part of this training step comes by having a treat in your hand while you give the visual command for your dog to roll over.

4. Add in a Verbal Command

Once your dog is able to do the actual motion of rolling over with your lure and hand motions as a guide, it’s time to add in the verbal command. Start by saying “roll over” out loud while still giving the hand motion and using the treat as a lure. Once your dog has that mastered, you can slowly remove the lure and simply use the treat as a reward, then remove the treat altogether. Eventually, you should also be able to give only the verbal command, but this might take a lot of practice. Your dog being able to follow the verbal command along with the hand motion is a great goal to start with! 

5. Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is your best friend when it comes to training your dog. It uses encouragement in the form of some type of reward to motivate your dog to continue or repeat a desired behavior. When your dog gets it right, giving them a treat or telling them they did a good job (verbal praise) will let them know they did a good job, making them want to do it again. Your dog will realize there’s a reward in it for them, whether it’s your encouragement or an appetizing dog treat, and be driven to do the task again.

How Long Does it Take To Teach a Dog to Roll Over?

Mastering commands like roll over can be tricky and might take a few weeks for your dog to really wrap their ears around. Most dogs can start training to follow commands at around 10 to 12 weeks, but it’s important to keep in mind that puppies can be pretty rambunctious. There’s nothing wrong with beginning training early, but be sure to have patience when teaching them new tricks.

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