Play Dead
Tricks · 11 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to lie down and immediately lie on their side for a hand signal and the verbal cue 'Bang'.
For this plan you will also need:
**- A No-Reward Marker:** such as "Oops," to mark the moment Your Dog breaks position to help them learn why they won't be getting a treat for that rep.
Training steps
Cue lie on your side using a small hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Prompt Your Dog onto their side by making a small hand signal (flip your flat hand from palm facing down to palm facing up) and wait to see if they roll onto their side. As soon as they do, give them a treat with their head and mouth on the floor in play dead position.
Success: Your Dog lies on their side.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Feed continuously in play dead position for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Cue Your Dog onto their side with a hand signal, then feed them continuously in play dead position for 2 seconds as long as they keep their head on the floor.
Success: Your Dog stays on their side with their head down for 2 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Feed continuously in play dead position for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Cue Your Dog onto their side with a hand signal, then feed them continuously in play dead position for 5 seconds as long as they keep their head on the floor.
Success: Your Dog stays on their side with their head down for 5 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold position for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Cue Your Dog onto their side with a hand signal and wait for them to hold their head on the floor for 1 second before giving them a treat.
Success: Your Dog stays on their side with their head down for 1 second.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold position for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Cue Your Dog onto their side with a hand signal and wait for them to hold their head on the floor for 2 seconds before giving them a treat.
Success: Your Dog stays on their side with their head down for 2 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold position for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Cue Your Dog onto their side with a hand signal and wait for them to hold their head on the floor for 3 seconds before giving them a treat.
Success: Your Dog stays on their side with their head down for 3 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold position for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is lying down.
Cue Your Dog onto their side with a hand signal and wait for them to hold their head on the floor for 5 seconds before giving them a treat.
Success: Your Dog stays on their side with their head down for 5 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is sitting or standing.
With Your Dog in a sit or a stand, say the verbal cue 'Bang' while pretending to shoot them with your hand, then cue them to lie down and roll onto their side using your verbal cues or hand signals. As soon as Your Dog puts their head on the floor, give them a treat in play dead position.
Success: Your Dog plays dead for a verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue and hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is sitting or standing.
With Your Dog in a sit or a stand, say the verbal cue 'Bang' while pretending to shoot them with your hand, then wait to see if they lie down and roll onto their side on their own. Do not prompt them with further cues. As soon as Your Dog puts their head on the floor, give them a treat in that position.
Success: Your Dog plays dead for a verbal cue.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Play dead for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is sitting or standing.
Cue Your Dog to play dead, then wait 2 seconds before giving them a treat.
Success: Your Dog plays dead for 2 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Play dead for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is sitting or standing.
Cue Your Dog to play dead and wait 5 seconds before giving them a treat.
Success: Your Dog plays dead for 5 seconds.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Good job! You've laid a strong foundation for Play Dead.
Now it's time to proof Your Dog's new skill. You can restart the plan using proof steps, or play games with the goals you just earned. Practice both in different locations and around distractions.