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Dog TrainingSUPPLIES
Overview
It is important that you spend time exercising your dog each day. If you want to try something new, you can begin to teach your dog some tricks. The easiest trick to start with is to get your dog to roll over. You may be surprised how much fun it is, and your dog will take delight in learning a new trick that pleases you.
Step 1
Make sure your dog already knows how to lie down. Your dog will need to know this command to get ready to roll over. If your dog doesn't know the lie down command, teach it to him. This should take only 1 to 3 days to do. Have your dog sit, and then tell him to lie down. At first, he won't know what you are talking about, so you will have to pull his front paws down until he is lying down. Then praise the dog and give him a treat. Repeat this until the dog does it on his own.
Step 2
Get out a treat when you are ready for your dog to learn to roll over. Tell the dog to lie down, and then hold a treat up over the dog's right shoulder.
Step 3
Give the dog the command to roll over. Then move the treat from the dog's left shoulder to the dog's right shoulder. If the dog doesn't follow the treat, then gently guide him over. Give him the treat after he completes the roll, and praise him for doing it.
Step 4
Have your dog repeat the trick again, being sure to guide him if he doesn't do the trick on his own the first few times.
Step 5
Have your dog repeat the trick without your aid at all. If the dog does not do the trick, do not praise him or give him a treat.
Step 6
Practice in 15-to-20-minute increments. You can practice once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once at night. Your dog may take a few days to learn the trick, but he shouldn't take any longer than 1 week. Always begin by helping the dog and then requiring him to do the trick without help.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : You can also teach your dog to do the trick using sign language instead of a voice command.
- WARNING : If you have more than one dog, don't teach all of your dogs at the same time. They need to learn the trick one on one so they are not fighting for your attention.
