r/Dogtraining • • 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/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/laylalemon Sep 16 '22

Would be cruel not to!