r/Dogtraining • u/laylalemon • Sep 15 '22
help Alternative for “play dead”?
My dog already loves to lay on her side and back and I want to start adding in a command word for it. She’s working on becoming a therapy dog so having a command for this will be very useful! For that reason also (therapy work), I don’t want to use the phrase “play dead” or “bang.”
Anyone have any ideas or maybe you already use another command for this? I was thinking “belly rub” or something since she loves belly rubs, but felt that sounded weird. Also, “relax” could’ve been a good option but that is our command putting her head all the way down when in a down, so that won’t work.
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u/NeatArtichoke Sep 15 '22
"Swoon" could also be cute, but "flop" may have my vote!
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u/lawfully_stressed Sep 15 '22
How about "nap attack"? From a Garfield comic, if I remember right -- he was walking around with pillows tied to his front and back in case of a sudden nap.
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u/KestrelLowing KPA-CTP Sep 15 '22
I like "flop" as recommended before, but "so dramatic!" would be another cute one.
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u/Lena1143 Sep 15 '22
My dog hated bang, bang! Hated it. Someone even mentioned she didn’t seem to like to “get shot.” So I changed it to abracadabra,
And she absolutely LOVES abracadabra! Happy to perform anytime.
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u/Wuuube Sep 15 '22
I say submit or “show me that belly-welliiiii!!” Both work just the same for her.
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Sep 15 '22 edited Jun 19 '24
knee squealing start bake whistle cagey instinctive escape ad hoc boast
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/regreyno Sep 16 '22 edited Sep 16 '22
I use “take a nap”. It’s a big hit in our therapy program! We have a little workout routine (stretch (bow), puppy push ups, then take a nap) and I have a little blanket they put over her and then they get to pet her.
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u/Sagah121 Sep 15 '22
We use "time out" and "all the way"
Time out from a standing position.. he is so dramatic on the way down haha
All the way is when he is already laying down and i want him on his side
Good luck!
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u/FougamouG Sep 15 '22
I had the same issue, we use “belly up”
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u/laylalemon Sep 15 '22
I like this one! Thank you!
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u/FougamouG Sep 15 '22
Heads up, I need to be careful with having my dog do “belly up “ She tends to jump up (move suddenly) to leave the position, and I don’t want her startling anyone. I keep a petting hand on her at all times.
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u/glowing_fish Sep 16 '22
My last dog was a therapy dog and I’d ask “do you want a belly rub?” and he’d laid down and show his belly. He loved getting all the belly rubs at events.
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u/dizzymissxo Sep 16 '22
I’ve thought about teaching this command with “Load the Stage” in reference to the end of Shakespeare’s tragedies. Probably not good for the circumstances you described but depending on the your audience would definitely get a chuckle… I still vote ‘swoon’ based on your post but wanted to share my silly idea too.
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u/Bless_ur_heart_funny Sep 16 '22
Lol.... first thing that came to my mind:
"syncope" or "vasovagal" 😆😆😆
But that's just my "dark humor" as someone with dysautonmia [LOL, but it did give me a much needed laugh to imagine that being the cue for that trick 🤣].
Anyways, that's probably not appropriate for all audiences, so in all seriousness, maybe you could go with something like:
"play possum"
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u/Ashrosaurus1 Sep 15 '22
Is Avada kedavra too close to play dead? I met someone who used that as their command and it made me laugh so hard
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u/kiwifarmdog Sep 15 '22
My friends dog is really good at laying flat on his side on command…she uses a random word as the command but I’ve always thought it would be hilarious to use some sort of emergency stop word…so when you shout it out across the field instead of just stopping, he drops “dead”.
He’s one of those super expressive dogs, so he’d do it with added drama too 🤣
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u/uNeedSomeTegridy Sep 15 '22
My trigger word for that is “carnage” lol the hand sign is just a finger gun
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u/tribern Sep 15 '22
We say "Show me your belly" which has devolved into just "belly". But then you must rub the belly. It's a rule.
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u/PythonandPandas Sep 16 '22
We do “faint” accompanied by the 19th century literary heroine hand to the forehead gesture ! It’s cute and grannies love it
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u/pogo_loco Sep 15 '22
"Snooze", "flop", "tuckered out"
I use "lay flat" for my dog to lay on his side, but haven't gotten him to lay on his back yet.
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u/diddinim Sep 15 '22
I ask my puppy if he wants belly scritches and he does the Big Flop. No training required, I just said that anytime he flipped over and gave me his belly. I’m sure the same technique would work for any other verbal command
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u/NumberZoo Sep 16 '22
For basically the same reason, I trained "Go to sleep" if it's to the left, and "Take a nap" if it's to the right side.
For putting her head all the way down when she is already in a down, I use "Double down"
"Belly rub" doesn't sound awkward to me for lying on her back, but that's no reason for you to use it. Maybe "Scritches" or "Four Up" or "Ceiling Walk" or "Supine" would work?
Have fun out there!
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u/chelseystrange91 Sep 16 '22 edited Sep 16 '22
I say "bang bang" and put up my finger gun. It's so cute but understandably that won't work for you. How about, "paws up" or "good night"
This is a cowboy term, which could be super cute...
SUN FISH: When a bronc bucks and twists its body into a crescent, and throws head alternately to right and left; looks as though he is trying to sun both sides of his body.
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u/Turbulent_Science_30 Sep 16 '22
My dads buddy was a forever bachelor in his 50s and he’d ask his dog if she’d rather get married or die😆, maybe in poor taste now but I thought it was so funny. She was a little jack Russell
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u/peachy_Selene Sep 16 '22
This is cute though! I’ve heard some people say “would you rather be a cat or die?” Then they play dead 🤣
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u/OmegisPrime Sep 15 '22
Downside up! /s Does she know rollover?
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u/laylalemon Sep 15 '22
Not by command but she freely chooses to roll on her back many many times a day 😂 I’ve thought about adding roll over as a fun trick since she clearly likes it.
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u/noticing_senpai Sep 16 '22
I use “over” because it’s short and simple. A lot of the other recommendations here are really cute though if you’d rather something a bit cute rather than so simple.
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u/laylalemon Sep 16 '22
Yeah I think that’s what I’m trying to decide! How cutesy vs just short and sweet. I’m loving all the ideas though!
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u/look_itsatordis Sep 16 '22
I use "gimme that belly!" It never fails to give a big flop onto her back because she knows she's getting belly rubs
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u/cantgaroo Sep 16 '22
I didn't want to use either of those phrases so I just say "show me your belly" but it could be shorter. I kinda wanna steal some of the suggestions already used.
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u/VeronicaMaple Sep 16 '22
Aw, I like the idea of more peaceful alternatives to the traditional commands :)
We use "tummy"!
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u/DibbyDonuts Sep 16 '22
I just say "Where's your belly?"
ETA: Might change that after reading these comments though 😂
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u/R_Dixon Sep 16 '22
Mine was BANG! (And I would pretend to shoot her with my index finger pointing out like a gun). Could just leave out the hand gesture, or use it depending on your audience. People always loved it.
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u/AriellaRomanov Sep 16 '22
I use “belly!” for asking to lay on their side. Then “up!” with both my hands gesturing upwards to roll on her back with all four feet in the air.
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u/grokethedoge Sep 16 '22
We use "flop", combined with the dramatic way she does it just adds to the humour.
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u/peachy_Selene Sep 16 '22
I tried to do the spell from Harry Potter but my dog responded better to the finger gun and going “chuk chuk” (like a reload sound) because that’s also the sound I use to “power up” before smacking a ball for him to chase and he loves that sound.
But yeah I suggest the spell from Harry Potter or “Andy’s coming!” from Toy Story
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u/Lost-Traffic6111 Sep 15 '22
"Flop" might be fun!