And so you taught your dog to sit, stand still, and lie down and are now ready to move on to a more complex command: roll on the ground. This game always makes a big impression on people, but it is simple to teach the pet. Prepare to train him by making sure your furry friend knows the basic steps one at a time. Finally, teach him to turn around with a simple rewards technique. Have fun while you train him and your dog will learn in no time.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Make sure your dog can perform the lie down command
This is the first essential step to complete the turn, since the animal must get down to perform it. If he doesn't respond to the "lie down" command, you will then have to teach him.
You can also start with the dog lying on its side. This may make it easier to teach him to roll
Step 2. Have treats on hand
Feed him treats he doesn't usually eat, such as lean meat (roast beef, ham or turkey), cheese, commercial dog treats, chicken, or other foods your pet loves. Break the treats into small portions so they last throughout the training session and your dog doesn't feel full too quickly. If you keep your interest in treats high, then your furry friend will remain motivated to learn. Avoid salty or fatty foods.
- If you'd rather not give the dog treats, you can use a clicker. This is a popular tool in dog training and rewards the animal with a "click" rather than an edible reward. First teach your loyal friend to react as you wish to the clicker sound, and when you pair it with a reward, you can begin spinning training.
- Never use punishment as a training technique. Dogs do not understand negative reinforcement and will not learn new exercises from punishments. In fact, if you use an aggressive tone of voice or force the animal to execute commands, it will associate the exercise with fear.
Step 3. Go with your pet to a room suitable for training
When you want to teach your dog something, it's best to start in a comfortable, distraction-free room. Choose an environment with a lot of space, as the dog will need to move around a bit. Once your pet is able to do the exercise indoors, you can ask him to do it outdoors or in public as well.
Let other people around the house know what you are doing so they don't distract your dog during training
Part 2 of 3: Teaching the Dog to Roll
Step 1. Give the dog the command "lie down"
When the animal begins the "turnaround" exercise it should be lying on the ground on its stomach, with its paws forward and its muzzle raised. From this position he should be able to roll over without harming himself.
Step 2. Hold the treat close to the animal's face
Squat down and hold the treat where the dog can see and smell it, near the muzzle. Close your fingers around the delicacy and make sure that it cannot "steal" it from your hand until the exercise is done.
If the dog tends to grab the tidbit very quickly, then watch out for the fingers to avoid earning a bite
Step 3. Move the candy and say the order "roll"
Turn the hand in which you hold the food around the dog's head so that its nose follows it. Usually the head and body follow the direction taken by the nose. If you induce the dog's nose to follow a circular path that will roll the animal on itself, then you will be able to get your faithful friend to complete the exercise. Say the command "roll" in a clear, friendly voice as you move your hand with the treat around the animal's head.
Your goal is to get the dog to associate the physical movement of the turn with the voice command. If you prefer, you can perform a manual signal by performing a rotation of the hand; alternatively, you can say the voice command and the physical command simultaneously
Step 4. Support the dog and continue to train him
With your free hand, help him complete the turn if he can't do the whole movement on his own. Practice with your furry friend several times, as this is a fairly difficult move for a dog. During training, reward him with treats every time he takes a step in the right direction. This will encourage him to persevere.
Your dog may feel frustrated, wait for him to turn completely before rewarding him. Don't forget to praise him in an excited and gentle tone of voice. Dogs respond very positively to vocal encouragement and petting
Step 5. Know when to reward your faithful friend
At first, give him a treat and praise him every time he rolls perfectly. Continued rewards will positively reinforce this new behavior. Once he understands what you expect from him, reduce the frequency of edible rewards.
Reward the dog immediately, within a few seconds from the correct action; this way you help him understand that he is doing the right thing, so he will repeat it
Step 6. Repeat the training several times until the dog is able to perform the exercise unaided
After the first few successes, he should be able to roll on himself without support. You won't have to move your hand with the treat around his head or physically help him roll. Stand up and say the command for the turn; when he does it spontaneously, reward him with a treat and a pat on the head.
Part 3 of 3: Perfecting the Exercise
Step 1. Continue training until your dog can turn around without the need for a treat
Once your pet understands what you expect from the "roll" command, change the reward scheme. Don't offer him a treat every time. As you train it, stretch the time between one prize and another, until you move on to random and less and less tasty sweets. This way you avoid your wagging friend expecting a delicacy every time he spins; moreover, unpredictable premiums keep interest in the year high.
Keep rewarding him with verbal praise (like a "good dog") and warm cuddles. Reserve the special treats for the next exercise you want to teach him, for now offer him treats, pieces of dog food and other less tasty foods
Step 2. Try to get him to execute the command in new places where there are distractions
At this point you can introduce the novelty of a new location where you can obey the command. This is a new challenge for the dog and prevents him from associating exercise with a specific room in the house. Start outdoors, first with a treat and then without. The park is a great place to train him, as there are a lot of distractions.
The new distractions represent an additional difficulty for the dog. Be patient with him and reintroduce food rewards as long as he consistently obeys the command, even in new places
Step 3. At this point, you can ask him to obey the command even in front of other people
In this way the dog gets used to "showing off". The extra praise he will receive from others present will encourage him to turn around. Let other people give him the "roll" command as well. When your dog has mastered the exercise perfectly, then he will turn around even when he receives the command from another individual.
Advice
- At the beginning it is not easy to teach the dog to turn around, but over time it will be an exercise that you can show your guests! Don't give up, your dog is smarter than you think!
- Do not hit the animal unless it rolls on itself. An abused dog only learns to hate the person who is teaching him the command.
- Be gentle when touching the dog and don't force him to roll over if he doesn't seem to like the movement. Some specimens do not like to stay with their stomachs in the air. Try another exercise if your furry friend prefers not to turn around.
- If your dog stops following the command, go back a few steps in the training and start giving him treats again from time to time. If you stop the food rewards too quickly, the dog may experience frustration.
- Remember to enforce the command from different starting positions. The dog should be able to "turn" from a sitting, standing or lying position.
- Never raise your voice, never hit the dog or spank him. These animals do not respond well to negative reinforcement, and even your dog will not learn to flip, only to fear you.
- Make sure that the training sessions last no more than ten or fifteen minutes. Dogs get bored after a short time and need breaks. You can also schedule more than one session per day; if you alternate between teaching and play, you help the dog's brain stay active, interested and ready to learn. Also, too long training with food rewards will make the pet believe that it will get a treat every time it executes the command.
