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Teach Your Dog To Play Dead

🎩 Training guideVerified: Oct 19, 2026Sources at bottom
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Sourced to the AKC

AKC guidance on teach your dog to play dead.

AKC GoodDog! Helpline trainer Milena Barreto has taught her Standard Poodle, Phoebe, dozens of tricks. They use their re

This is a good trick to teach your dog when she is tired and ready to rest. She needs to know the DOWN cue before you start teaching this cute trick.

Ask your dog to “down” and kneel in front of her with a treat in your hand.

Hold the treat at the side of her head and move it toward her shoulder. She should fall to her side, at which point you should give her the treat, saying “PLAY DEAD.”

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Frequently asked questions

Teach your dog to play dead?

The AKC walks through this step by step — the key points are covered above, sourced to the AKC article linked on this page. This is a good trick to teach your dog when she is tired and ready to rest. She needs to know the DOWN cue before you start teaching this cute trick. Ask your…

Teach your dog to play dead when you say bang?

The AKC walks through this step by step — the key points are covered above, sourced to the AKC article linked on this page. This is a good trick to teach your dog when she is tired and ready to rest. She needs to know the DOWN cue before you start teaching this cute trick. Ask your…

Teach your dog to bang play dead?

The AKC walks through this step by step — the key points are covered above, sourced to the AKC article linked on this page. This is a good trick to teach your dog when she is tired and ready to rest. She needs to know the DOWN cue before you start teaching this cute trick. Ask your…

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