Does anyone have any tips on how to teach a dog to rollover?

This is how I teach it.
1. I assume you have the down perfected. If not you need this first.
2. Teach the flat command, so the dog knows to lay on it's side.
3. From the flat position. Put the treat to the dogs nose and bring it down between the front legs, the head should follow, then lift the treat over the chest and down the otherside of the chest to the floor, saying the 'rollover' command.

A bit difficult to put into words, but gradually build up the speed of going across the chest. Eventually you can do away with the flat (always a handy command to have up your sleeve, sure to impress the vet :) ) and then you will find you will not need the down. 'Rollover' alone should do it.

Be patient, not the easiest one for the dog to pick up. But this worked for me.

Good Luck

Sandra

ps Teach the dog on a soft surface like a quilt or soft carpet, it wont hurt the dogs backbone when it goes over slowly to start with.

She responds to "lay down" pretty good when I have a treat in my hand. She is only 4 1/2 months old, so her attention span isn't great, but thanks for the pointers

I taught my dog by putting him in the down position and then rolling him over, at the same time I said roll over. He was 5 months old and all I had to say was roll over and he would keep rolling as long as I said it. I had him go from one end of my living room to the other. Very smart little dog. Sadly I had to give Menace back to the breeder at 8 months, since he had a lot of problems. He sure lived up to his name :Dlol

Hi, I would leave until her down is reliable, without a titbit! You don't want to confuse her with too many different commands. It's much better to perfect something before you move on. With the rollover and the down starting from the same position, she's likely to confuse the two if you train them at the same time.

In what circumstances is she not reliable for the 'down'?

Jo

Last night I was playing with her and thought I'd work on a few things. Usually she'll respond to sit regardless of the circumstance, but to get her to lay down she has to be completely focused with no distractions. So using cereal, (I find that is a good treat because she loves it and it doesn't have an overpowering smell that makes her go nuts), I worked on sit and lay for a bit. Then I started not giving a treat when she lay down.
I began touching her side while waving the treat over her and she started rolling over. Once she rolled over I'd give the treat. Then I set the Cheerio on the ground a ways from her and waved my hand over her. She'd follow the hand and recieve the treat that was waiting for her. This morning I gave it another shot. I told her to sit, lay, and rollover and she did all three before recieving the treat. Hopefully this is just the start.
Drai

Well done Drai, it feels good when it all comes together doesn't it.

You will soon be on again looking for idea's for her next trick. :)

Sandra

She has fully caught onto roll over. So much so that if I have a treat and tell her to laydown, she will automaticly roll over. She will do it without treats now too. So we have progressed onto getting her to stay. I can walk across the room and she will stay until I say okay. The few times that she has moved, I tell her sternly to stay and she drops back into a lay. Is there anything I am missing?
Drai

Don't quite understand what you mean by her dropping back into a lay. What position are you leaving her in and what are you calling a lay?

If you are teaching a stay it should be built up very slowly for it to be reliable. The release command should not be given until you return to her, it sounds like you are giving it at the other side of the room. This is done so the dog is relaxed in the stay until you return, otherwise it is like a recall with the dog on edge awaiting you to call her.

With such a young pup I would not be leaving her in a stay for more than a few seconds and only a pace or two away. It sounds like she is not confident enough to go too far from, build it up gradually and this will build her confidence. If she breaks, then go back to her and quietly and gently put her back to the spot where you left her. It is worth you taking the time with this excercise, get it right and it will last a lifetime.

Sandra