Tricks · Expert
How to teach your dog to play dead
A crowd-pleaser, and an impressive stay variation.
By Pawfessor Editorial TeamUpdated
- LevelExpert
- Practice timeAbout 100 min in total, over short sessions
- Reps per session3–5
- You needTreats
Play dead is a crowd pleaser and a useful stay variation. Take your time building the stillness.
Before you start
- A quiet room with no distractions
- Small, soft treats they love (or their own food)
Step by step
- Start with Roll over to the side
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to teach roll over first?
It helps. Play dead is a roll onto the side, held still.
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