Lie on your Side
Positions · 14 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to lie on their side (lateral recumbency) from a down for a hand signal and the verbal cue 'Side'. Lying flat on one side makes grooming, handling, and vet visits far easier, from brushing and belly checks to ear cleaning and exams, and it makes an impressive trick too. Build a relaxed association by keeping sessions short and rewarding Your Dog for settling rather than popping back up.
Train Down from Sit first so the down is solid. You will need soft treats for luring.
**Note:** Training on a soft surface can help Your Dog feel more comfortable rolling onto their side.
Training steps
Reward the hip shift
Setup: Your Dog is lying down, ideally on a soft surface.
For a stiff or hesitant dog, start small. With Your Dog in a sphinx down, lure their nose slowly toward one shoulder and mark and treat the instant they lean and shift their weight onto one hip, even a little. You are paying that first weight shift before asking for a full hip drop.
Success: Your Dog shifts their weight onto one hip.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure onto one hip
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
When Your Dog is lying in a sphinx down (hips symmetrical), hold a treat in front of their nose and lure them to move their head toward their back, just enough for Your Dog to shift onto one hip.
Success: Your Dog lies on one hip.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure nose halfway to shoulder
Setup: Your Dog is lying down on one hip.
When Your Dog is lying down on one hip, lure them to move their head halfway toward their top shoulder. Feed Your Dog in position while they are leaning back.
Success: Your Dog follows the lure halfway to their shoulder.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure nose to shoulder
Setup: Your Dog is lying down on one hip.
When Your Dog is lying down on one hip, lure them to move their head to their top shoulder, prompting them to untuck their elbow. Feed Your Dog in position while they are leaning back.
Success: Your Dog follows the lure to their shoulder.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Untuck onto the shoulder
Setup: Your Dog is lying down on one hip.
Bridge the roll in two halves. From one hip, lure Your Dog's nose past their top shoulder and reward the moment their shoulder lowers and the elbow starts to untuck, partway toward their side, before asking for the full roll.
Success: Your Dog lowers their top shoulder and starts to untuck their elbow.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure onto side
Setup: Your Dog is lying down on one hip.
When Your Dog is lying down on one hip, lure their nose to their top shoulder and then behind them so Your Dog rolls completely onto their side. Feed Your Dog in position while they are lying on their side.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure onto side quickly
Setup: Your Dog is lying down on one hip.
Quickly lure Your Dog onto their side to prepare for fading the lure to a hand signal.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Feed 5 treats in position
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Quickly lure Your Dog onto their side and feed 5 treats in a row so Your Dog learns to stay in position.
Success: Your Dog stays on their side for 5 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Bury the lure
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Bury the lure in your prompting hand by holding it against your palm with your thumb. Lure Your Dog onto their side, then reward with a treat from your opposite hand or treat pouch instead of the buried lure.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Large hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Repeat the luring motion with an empty hand to prompt Your Dog onto their side. Wait to see if they lie on their side. As soon as they do, give them a treat from your opposite hand or treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Medium hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Give a medium-sized hand signal and wait to see if Your Dog lies on their side. As soon as they do, give them a treat from your opposite hand or treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Small hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Give a small hand signal (flip your flat hand from palm facing down to palm facing up) and wait to see if Your Dog lies on their side. As soon as they do, give them a treat from your opposite hand or treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Say the verbal cue 'Side', pause for 1 second, then prompt Your Dog onto their side with a small hand signal if needed. As soon as Your Dog goes onto their side, give them a treat from your opposite hand or treat pouch.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side for a verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Say the verbal cue 'Side' and wait to see if Your Dog lies on their side. Do not use the hand signal. If Your Dog goes onto their side, give them a treat.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side for a verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Nice work! Your Dog can now roll onto their side for a small hand signal and for the word 'Side' alone.
To make it rock solid, proof it: restart the plan on the proof steps, or play the goal games you just earned, in new places and around distractions.
Ready for more? This side position is the finish for Play Dead, a fun trick built right on top of it.