Dog Training 101: Shake
Basic commands like sit and stay are excellent, but there is so much more that your four-legged friend can do! One of the most fun things you can do is teach your dog how to shake. This is an easy trick to teach if you have a dog that loves to get treats! Follow our steps below to teach your dog how to shake.
- Gather supplies. You will need dog training treats (choose a kind your dog loves). This is all that you need!
- Ask your dog to sit. Praise them and feed them a treat as soon as they do.
- Hold out a dog treat. Do not let them have the treat yet! Grasp the treat firmly between your thumb and forefinger, ensuring you have a solid hold. Hold the treat in front of your dog’s nose and allow them to sniff it.
- Move the treat to the side until they lift their paw. Keep holding the treat about an inch from your dog’s nose. Slowly move your hand to the side. Make sure that your dog follows the treat. As your dog follows the treat, their body will shift. As they lean, one of their front paws will lift up. Feed them the treat as soon as you see their paw lift a little. Do this a few times in a row, moving the treat in the same direction each time to encourage your dog to lift the same paw.
- Encourage your dog to lift its paw higher. Start waiting for higher paw raises. After the paw lifts a little, please wait for your pup to raise its foot slightly higher.
- Introduce your “shake hand.” You will use this hand to hold your dog’s paw during a “handshake.” Because you are already using one of your hands to make the “life your paw” signal, your other hand automatically becomes the shake hand. When your dog is lifting their paw high enough, place your shake hand in front of them so your pup’s paw lands on it. The goal is for your dog to put their paw on your upturned palm.
- It’s time for the verbal cue. Let’s say you want to use “shake” as your verbal cue. To teach it, say “shake” and then put your shake hand out. Reward your dog with a treat when it puts its paw in your palm.
If you have completed the steps above, your dog is now a certified handshake expert. You can always have your dog do this trick with family and friends. It will let them know how brilliant your four-legged friend truly is!
