Watch Now: How to Train Your Dog to Shake
The only things needed when training a dog to shake paws are your dog and a handful of treats. If you are clicker training, you will need your clicker as well.
This trick relies on the dog sitting calmly and giving you its undivided attention. If it doesnt know how to sit reliably, go back and practice that command before moving on.
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Have your dog sit. Hold a treat in one hand and show it to your dog. Close your fist over the treat so the dog cant get it.
Give your dog the command “shake,” and wave your closed fist under its nose to keep it interested in the treat. Wait for your dog to start digging in your hand for the treat. Usually, dogs sniff around, and when that doesnt work they begin to paw at your hand.
The moment your dog touches your hand with its paw, say “good” or click your clicker. Open your hand and allow the dog to have the treat.
Practice “shake” for five minutes, two or three times a day. Your dog will be offering you its paw the moment you give the command before you know it.
Teaching the Verbal Command
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1 Introduce a verbal command. After your dog beings consistently pawing at the treat in your closed hand3 Ways to Teach your Dog How to Shake
Teaching your dog to shake is a great party trick and one that is easily taught. You can even get the kids involved.
Most children over the age of 7 years can be taught basic training techniques and in fact, many children are more persistent than adults when it comes to training the family pet! 898 Views
Small tasty treats that don’t take long to chew (use something high value such as bbq chicken or liver treats if your dog is hard to motivate, or train when he is hungry)
Hold a treat in your hand and show him the treat (it may be useful to have the remaining treats easy to access in a pouch or pocket), then close your fist over the treat.
Hold the treat, in your closed fist close to his foot, about 5cm/2in off the ground.
If your dog lifts his paw even a little, or even shifts weight onto the other paw, tell him he is a good boy and give him the treat.
Most dogs will bat at your hand to get the treat, so as soon as this happens to open your hand to reveal the treat and tell him ‘good’ or ‘yes’, whatever your signal is for doing the right thing.
At the same time your other hand should be held out flat to ‘shake’ when your dog lifts his paw, so you can grab his paw while he takes the treat.
Reward him immediately when he does the correct thing, even if he only lifts his foot a little bit the first time.
Gradually phase out the treats, so he only gets a treat intermittently once you are sure he knows the trick.
Only practice for 5-10 minutes every day, any longer and you will both get tired and frustrated.
Always end on a positive note, if you are getting frustrated and your dog isn’t ‘getting it’, go back to a trick he does know and reward him for that.
Avoid treats that need to be chewed for long periods, or you will spend most of your time watching him eat.