"Shake" is a popular and endearing trick for dogs, and it's no wonder why. It's adorable, enjoyable for dogs, and easy to teach. Not only will it entertain and impress your friends and family, but it also provides a polite way for your dog to greet new people. The goal of teaching "shake" is for your dog to willingly offer the behavior with enthusiasm and comprehension. There's no need to physically manipulate your furry companion by lifting their paw and coercing them to "shake hands" with humans.
Teaching Dogs Shake
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to teach your dog to shake hands, making the process simple and rewarding:
1.Extend your hand out to your dog.
2.Your dog might engage in some experimentation to understand your intention, such as sniffing or licking your hand. The key is to be patient and refrain from speaking. Once your dog paws at your hand, use a clicker or offer praise immediately, open your hand, and provide a treat as a reward.
3.Repeat the previous step multiple times until your dog consistently paws at your hand.
4.Once your dog consistently paws at your hand, begin to increase the duration and difficulty of the behavior. Encourage your dog to keep their paw on your hand for slightly longer periods before offering praise, using the clicker, and providing a treat.
It's important to note that you shouldn't use any verbal cues with your dog at this stage. It's crucial to ensure that your dog fully comprehends the trick before introducing the formal command. This approach will help avoid confusion and prevent inadvertently teaching your dog to paw at you instead of shaking hands.
5.Take it slow when it comes to building duration with your dog's paw on your hand. Wait until your dog's paw rests on your hand before using the clicker/praise and giving a treat. The timing of the reward is crucial to ensure that your dog understands that placing their paw on your hand is what you're looking for.
6.Initially, ask your dog to hold their paw on your hand for just a second before using the clicker/praise and treating. Your dog will learn that merely scratching at you won't get the reward; instead, they need to place their paw on your hand.
7.Once your dog consistently places their paw on your hand, introduce a verbal cue of your choice. "Shake" is the most common cue, but you can use any word you prefer. When you extend your hand just before your dog's paw touches it, say "shake," then offer praise/click and a treat. The goal is for your dog to associate the "shake" behavior with the verbal cue. Timing is crucial here too. Introduce the verbal cue right before your dog offers the "shake" behavior, when you're confident they're about to shake your hand.
8.When your dog consistently succeeds at this stage, flatten your hand sideways and hold it out to your dog while using the verbal cue. Click/praise and treat when your dog's paw meets your hand. If your dog doesn't shake at this point, it simply means they're not quite ready for this step yet.
9.Once your dog consistently places their paw on your outstretched hand, you can start adding some gentle up-and-down movement. Remember to praise and treat for this as well. If your dog becomes nervous or uncertain at any point, go back to the previous successful step, practice it a few times, and then slowly reintroduce the more challenging step.
Shaking with Each Paw
Dogs don't generalize things the same way humans do. While we might assume that shaking hands with one hand is the same as the other, it's different for dogs. To teach your dog to shake with both their right and left paw, you may need to teach them separately.
It's helpful to start by training your dog to shake with the paw closest to the hand you're extending. For example, if you face your dog and hold out your right hand, they will offer their left paw. If you hold out your left hand, they will offer their right paw to shake.
To teach your dog to shake with both paws, follow the above steps for both the right and left paws. However, only use the clicker/praise and treat when your dog offers to shake with the paw closest to your hand. If your dog initially offers the "wrong" paw, avoid correcting or chastising them. Remember, they're trying to figure out what you're asking them to do. Stay patient and wait quietly until they offer the paw you want, then praise/click and give lots of treats.
Keep in mind that teaching a trick in the comfort and quiet of your home is different from practicing it in the real world with more distractions. Therefore, it's important to practice "shake" with your dog in different locations, gradually increasing the level of distraction and providing frequent rewards to ensure their success.