same as teaching any other body position (sit, down, stand, etc.)---by helping/luring the dog into the posture, treating and praising for it, and THEN adding the "command" word.
Get Kodee into a regular down, and then help him onto his side (both by luring his head with the treat, and physically rolling him onto his side) . When his shoulder touches the floor, praise and treat, then release. Repeat this several times, until you can tell that he is anticipating getting into the "dead" position. Make a HUGE deal out of him going into this posture with treats and praise. Then add the word and hand gesture. Make a gun with your hand and say "bang-bang!" the instant before you give the treat. Then repeat that a bunch of times.
Remember, that as your teaching the trick, you praise and treat AS IF the dog were already doing it on his own--even though he isn't--you're helping put him in the position. Eventually, he will decide that it's quicker to just do it himself because he'll get the treat faster. Once that "clicks" in his head then he's figured it out, and then you just need to repeat it to reinforce that he understands the game.
ETA: Luca quickly got it figured out that rolling onto his side meant getting the treat, but he still had his head up and alert, ready for the treat...not the best impression of "playing dead." So now, to add to the comedy routine, I have to add "all the way dead!" then he puts his head down.
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Get Kodee into a regular down, and then help him onto his side (both by luring his head with the treat, and physically rolling him onto his side) . When his shoulder touches the floor, praise and treat, then release. Repeat this several times, until you can tell that he is anticipating getting into the "dead" position. Make a HUGE deal out of him going into this posture with treats and praise. Then add the word and hand gesture. Make a gun with your hand and say "bang-bang!" the instant before you give the treat. Then repeat that a bunch of times.
Remember, that as your teaching the trick, you praise and treat AS IF the dog were already doing it on his own--even though he isn't--you're helping put him in the position. Eventually, he will decide that it's quicker to just do it himself because he'll get the treat faster. Once that "clicks" in his head then he's figured it out, and then you just need to repeat it to reinforce that he understands the game.
ETA: Luca quickly got it figured out that rolling onto his side meant getting the treat, but he still had his head up and alert, ready for the treat...not the best impression of "playing dead." So now, to add to the comedy routine, I have to add "all the way dead!" then he puts his head down.
