How to Teach a Dog to Play Dead: A Complete Guide to Training Your Dog to ‘Play Dead’ on shot Command
dog to play dead game – Pretending to be dead is an exciting exercise for dogs. Although it’s not as important as teaching your dog to obey commands like “sit” and “stay,” it can be a fun activity for both the dog and his audience. If your dog knows how to obey the command “lie down,” pretending to be dead will be much easier for him.
Why teach your dog play dead tricks?
Teaching your dog to “play dead” is beneficial for more than just entertainment. First and foremost, it helps provide excellent mental stimulation by keeping your dog’s mind sharp and occupied, which in itself is important for preventing boredom-related behaviors like chewing or excessive barking.
Any training you give a dog is a wonderful thing in itself, and teaching them tricks is a great way to spend time together and bond with them – these tricks are for dogs that don’t see any difference between practicing obedience commands and more fun things that you might enjoy more.
What you need to train your dog to play dead
Dogs need a quiet room with no distractions to train. A quiet place with no other people or dogs present is always best for teaching your dog new tricks.
Treats – Choose either their favorite store-bought snacks or something they enjoy. Use these as positive reinforcement to teach them what you want, encourage them in the right direction – and then to reward their successes.
Step to teach a dog to play dead
If you are clueless about how to teach your dog to play dead, we have got you covered. Follow these simple steps and start getting your dog practicing as soon as possible!
Step 1). Start in a Down Position:
First, command your dog to lie down. (If your dog doesn’t yet lie down on your command, go back and master lying down before training him to pretend to be dead.)
Step 2) Offer a Treat
Hold a treat near your dog’s nose and slowly pull it toward you so that he has to roll onto his side to get it. This step is very similar to teaching your dog to roll over. If your dog already knows this trick, he’s ahead of the game.
Step 3). Reward Listening
As soon as your dog lies down on its side, use a command like “yes” or “good.” Or, click your clicker. Then, give the dog a favorite treat. Repeat these steps several times.
Step 4) Add a voice and hand Signal
Once your dog has been performing the roll for a few times, add a cue word and a hand signal to the practice. Most people choose to use the verbal command “bang” as well as the hand signal command, pointing their fingers at the dog like a gun. Others ask fun questions, such as “Would you rather be a cat, or be dead?” Whichever command you choose, say the phrase, show the dog your hand signal, and then place the treat on the floor next to the dog. Eventually, you can stop placing the treat on the floor and reward the dog when it “resurrects.”
