How To Teach A Dog To Shake

While it may not be the most necessary of tricks in the world of dog obedience if you teach a dog to shake you open the door to a world of other fun-filled tricks such as wave goodbye, high-five, or turn off the light. To teach a dog to shake or give you his paw is a relatively simple task. For this trick I use the verbal command "shake", but you may choose to say "paw" instead. First, have your dog sit. Then, kneel in front of your dog. Now, you may choose to just lift your dog's paw off the floor while saying "shake" and praise him for this action. Or, you could press down on your dog's shoulder thereby forcing him to raise his paw. You could then slip your hand under his paw while saying your command and giving the appropriate praise. After a few times of showing your dog how it's done he should be ready to try it on his own. Stretch your open hand out to him and command "shake' and see if he obliges. If so, your training is complete. Simply reinforce this trick on a regular basis always giving rewards when your pup gives you a good, firm pawshake.