How to Teach a Dog to Shake<\/h2>\n
![\"Family](\"https:\/\/www.halocollar.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Family-with-dog-on-the-beach.webp\")
<\/p>\n
1. Teach the Sit Command<\/h4>\n
Your dog should already know how to sit on command before you start teaching it how to shake. You can train your pup to sit still until you tell it to stand using these steps:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Hold a treat a few inches above your dog\u2019s nose until it tries sitting to get a better look at it.<\/li>\n
- Tell your dog \u201csit\u201d once it starts to go down.<\/li>\n
- Click and reward your pup once their bottom touches the ground. Repeat a few times, ensuring it can associate the command with the sitting action.<\/li>\n
- In subsequent sessions, allow your dog to sit for a while before rewarding it.<\/li>\n
- Once your dog understands how to sit still, take a few steps back and issue the sit command. This allows it to obey the order even without an immediate reward.<\/li>\n
- Continue training your pup in different settings, including places with a lot of foot and vehicle traffic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2. Show Them a Treat<\/h3>\n
Once your pup can sit on command, you can move on to shake training.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Tell your dog to settle into a sitting position.<\/li>\n
- Place a treat on your hand and let the pup see it by holding it at your dog\u2019s chest level.<\/li>\n
- Fold your palm into a fist, ensuring your pup knows there\u2019s a treat inside. Some pups will start sniffing or licking your hand. If your dog paws at your closed fist, let it fully satisfy its curiosity before rewarding.<\/li>\n
- Click and immediately reward your pup if your dog\u2019s paw stays still on the hand with the treat.<\/li>\n
- Repeat, allowing your pup to place one paw on your hand for longer durations before clicking and rewarding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
3. Introduce the Verbal Cue<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s best to wait until your dog can completely rest its paw on your hand before introducing a verbal command. To introduce the verbal cue:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Hold out the hand with the treat and wait until your dog lifts its paw.<\/li>\n
- Say \u201cshake\u201d right before the paw rests on your hand. You can also use \u201cpaw\u201d or \u201chand\u201d as verbal cues.<\/li>\n
- Click while saying \u201cshake\u201d and reward when your pup\u2019s paw rests on your hand.<\/li>\n
- Repeat, varying the reward pace to help your dog associate the \u201cshake\u201d command with the resting action.<\/li>\n
- Once your dog can put its paw on your hand on command, you can move your hand up and down to simulate a handshake. Reward it if it doesn\u2019t remove its paw from your hand.<\/li>\n
- Repeat until your pup gets it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
4. Hold Out Hand Without Treat<\/h3>\n
Your pup must understand that it needs to shake your hand whether or not you have a treat. So, once it can respond to the verbal cue:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Switch the treat to your other hand.<\/li>\n
- Hold out the empty hand at your dog\u2019s chest level.<\/li>\n
- Initiate the verbal command.<\/li>\n
- Click and reward with the other hand when your pup places its paw on your outstretched hand.<\/li>\n
- Repeat, varying the reward pace until your pup can shake your hand even when not rewarded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
5. Switch Hands<\/h3>\n
Your pup may only shake with the paw you train it to. If you want to be able to hold both its paws in your hand on command, repeat the training steps with the other paw.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Switch the treat to your other hand and reward only when it places a different paw on it.<\/li>\n
- Repeat the steps to teach your pup to offer the paw closest to your outstretched hand \u2014 only reward if it reaches for your right hand with its left paw, for example.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You can also lift the treat hand higher to encourage your dog to lift its paw higher. Repeat these steps during future training sessions until your pup performs the desired action when you issue a shake command.<\/p>\n
Find More Dog Training Tips<\/h3>\n
Over time, your pup can learn advanced commands and perform more fun tricks to entertain you and your loved ones. Using tried-and-tested dog training methodologies<\/a> can improve the communication between you and your furry friend, making any future training session less frustrating for both of you.<\/p>\n