Play dead

[Guest Anonymous]

I can't get my 1yr old border collie female to play dead she can speak and roll over plus went through doggie school but i can't teach her play dead.

[Guest Anonymous]

You can try this... but if it doesn't work, and no other methodes do, I suggest just give up. She may also have some "isues" about lying on her side maybe? Or she may just be stuborn! LOL Play Dead is merly entertaining, it's not something you really need to teach her.
Anywho...

Steps...

1. Get her to Lay down.
2. Place your one hand on her back so she won't jump up, and using your other hand, place it on her shoulder. Push her shoulder, she will probably resist, may even try to bite softly at your hand (Hazel did anyway! LOL), but the more often you do it, the easier it will be.
3. With her shoulder on the ground, her head should follow too, but if it doesn't that means she still needs to get use to having her shoulder on the ground, so keep practicing. Every time her shoulder touches, PRAISE LOTS. Practice maybe once a day, five times, and don't forget to praise lots.
4. If her head does follow right away, and she doesn't resist, GREAT! You won't have to practice as much! Once her head is down, say "Bang" or "Play Dead" or whatever you choose, then PRAISE LOTS.
5. It doesn't matter at first if she's wagging her tail or whatever, she will soon start to calm down. If she doesn't, you can stop the movement with your hand, then PRAISE LOTS.
6. Soon enough, you'll be able to even start from a Sit to a Play dead, then to a Stand! It takes some time, Hazel still doesn't know, but she's getting there! :D

Hope this helps!

[DogPaddle]

If your dog will roll onto her back for tummy scratches its fairly easy. Every time your dog rolls on to its back for whatever reason, give it the command, you can encourage the behaviour by offering tummy scratches. With enough reps the dog should roll onto its back when you give the command, rather than the other way around. Of course if your dog doesn't go for tummy scratches you'll have to explore other methods. The only other method, aside from the one suggested by HazelNutMeg, that I can think of is luring the dog with treats. Get the dog to lie down, hold the treat beside the dogs cheek, the dog will turn her head to get the treat slowly lure the dog further and further and she should roll some, reward and next time lure her further. You'll have to play with the distance you hold the treat from the dogs head to get her in the right position. Have fun.

[Guest Anonymous]

oh! I forgot about the way of "playing dead" on their back... I taught Hazel to do it on her side. DogPaddle's method sounds good, I wouldn't know of any other ways for on the back though!

[Guest Anonymous]

:o :drinking: I taught Charlie to play dead by doing the following.

1. I watched to see if he would go on his side on his own first.
2. I taught him how to roll over.
3. Then I taught him how to "leave it/take it"
4. Next I made him lie on his side, put a treat in front of his nose and said leave it, and dead dog.
5. Eventually, I dropped leave it and now he plays dead.

[Guest Anonymous]

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