Dog obedience and training > Information > Teach your dog the trick of shaking hands

Teach your dog the trick of shaking hands

Teaching your dog to do tricks is a fun way to interact with your canine buddy and can help to mentally stimulate your dog. Here is how to teach your dog to shake on command.

I like to start out by having the dog sit and getting down on his or her level. It goes without saying that your dog must already be able to sit and stay. Take a treat with your left hand and entice your dog with it by placing it near his muzzle. Keep the treat cupped protectively in your hand so that your dog can smell and lick at it but not eat it until you say it is okay. With your right hand gently grab your dog's paw and pull up slowly while you say 'shake' every second or so. The second his paw leaves the ground immediately praise him and give the treat.

Do a lot of repetition with this exercise. If you are doing it well you will soon find that you don't have to pull up on his paw at all, he begins offering it on his own. When that happens you are ready to move on to the next step.

The next step is to get your dog more used to the command and less dependent on your hand pulling up on his paw. Start out the same way with a treat in your left hand. Extend your right hand towards his paw but don't grab it. Let your hand stop about an inch from his paw and give him the command 'shake'. The moment his paw leaves the ground give the treat and praise.

Continue training like this and gradually let your hand stop further and further from his paw as you give him the command 'shake'. Soon you will be able to be in a normal, standing position, extend your hand, tell him 'shake' and his paw will reach out to meet yours. Have fun training your dog.