Advanced obedience training for dogs involves teaching your pet more complex commands that go beyond the basics like sit, down, and stay. Some of these advanced commands include roll over, paw, and play dead. Not only can these tricks be fun and impressive, but they can also help mentally stimulate your dog and strengthen the bond between the two of you.
Scroll
The command to roll is a natural progression of the command "lay down". Start with your dog already lying down. With a treat in hand, move your hand slowly over the dog's shoulder so he has to roll over to follow the treat. As soon as the dog starts to roll over, say the "roll over" command. When the dog completes the action, give him the treat and praise him. Repeat this several times until the dog can perform the trick without the aid of the treat.
Give a Paw
To teach your dog to paw, start with him sitting down. Take one of its paws and say "paw". Then give him a treat and praise him. Repeat this several times until the dog starts lifting its paw on its own when you say the command. Remember to train both paws so your dog doesn't develop a preference for one paw.
Play Dead
Teaching your dog to play dead can be a little more complex. Start with your dog lying on its side. With a treat in hand, move your hand slowly away from the dog, encouraging him to lie on his side. Once the dog remains in position, say the command "dead" and give him the treat. Repeat this several times until the dog can perform the trick without the aid of the treat.
In all of these tricks, patience and consistency are key. Don't expect your dog to learn these advanced commands overnight. It may take several training sessions for the dog to fully understand what is expected of him. Remember to always end training sessions on a positive note, whether it's a treat, praise or play. This will help keep your dog motivated to learn more.
