[header] How to teach your dog to play dead on command [title] Teach your dog the' down' command before teaching him how to play dead. [step] Playing dead involves your dog lying down. Before he can learn this trick, he should be comfortable with the command to lie down. 
[title] Choose a comfortable area to train your dog. [step] Preferably, this area should also be quiet so that your dog does not become easily distracted.