How to teach a dog to shake hands? This is a process that involves a lot of patience, concentration, and tricks. As dog owners, we love to play with our dogs all day. We can’t stop feeling proud when our dog responds to things we say. Now Lets show you how do you teach a dog to shake a paw in 11 simple steps.
Basic commands such as training your new puppy to roll, shake paws, or high five will help foster good performance and obedience in your dog.
Your dog ought to know that basic dog commands like “sit”, “stay”, and “down”. When these commands are conquered, the training of dogs pretty simple.
The simplest way to teach our own canines is by following 11 steps. We can make your dog understand right or wrong with a simple key “Reward”. It is actually positive reinforcement.
“Shake” is a typical dog trick. For dogs, it’s sweet, entertaining, and easy to teach. Your friends and family will have fun and it is an excellent opportunity for your dog to meet new persons.
So, The aim of teaching shake is to provide happiness, excitement, and understanding.
What is a Reward? Why is it needed?
When your dog shakes, you need to praise him. Bite size treatments are ideal for training as you can add more of them to your dog with not many calories.
Consider what your dog enjoys and what motivates him. Know if your dog prefers soft delights or harsh delicacies? Does your dog seem to react to a specific flavor? So, Figure out which treatment works best for your dog and have it available for training.
Do not overfeed your dog. Keep it as little as you can. Especially food that might cause toxicity or diseasing.
Do not feed your dog with the below:
- avocado
- chocolate
- bread dough
- grapefruit
- hops
- ethanol
- moldy food
- macadamia noodles
- onions
How to teach a dog to shake hands/paw?
Step 1: Relax Position
Sit down with your dog on your knees or squat so you don’t lean or hover over the dog.
If your dog sits, his only method is to shake his hands. If the dog is in other positions, they cant lift their hands /paw as there is pressure on them. So bring them to a sitting position. You’ll need to train them to sit first if your dog doesn’t know how to sit.
Some dogs lie down to begin this trick and it’s all right! Go at their pace. Once they lift a paw to your side (even if it’s only one inch), you may ask them to provide a sign from a sitting. Ideally, your dog elevates his paw to the height of his chest.
Step 2: Introduce the reward
You’re not going to give your dog the reward yet. keep it in your left hand for the time being. Bring it to your dog’s nose and show it to him. Close your palm around the reward once you have his attention.
Step 3: Appreciate their response
When your dog starts fidgeting, say “Yes.” Once you know your dog will strive to grab a reward in their closed hands, Say “Yes” with plenty of passion and joy. So, now reward them when they move into the behavior you wish such as lifting a paw to test your feather and make the treat of it.
- If your dog moves to the behavior that you want, then pay them a tribute.
- Be patient.
- Practice this several times until your dog lifts his paw when you say “Paw.”
Step 4: Reward
Please reward your dog for shaking. You’ll want to move it to the next stage after your dog lifts your paw on the order. Only as they achieve something closer to your shaking goal.
For example, if your dog raises his paw higher than before, it gets a ‘Yes!’ and a reward, but not before. Go on till the dog offers his paw. This is possible.
Step 5: Pick up the paw of your dog in your hand.
Only use this extra step if your dog doesn’t feel like pawing in the treats in your hand. You will begin to show your dog that pawing with your hand gets him a reward. when you begin to teach a dog how to shake hands/paw, this is the simplest way you can start with.
Step 6: Introduce a command.
You may begin introducing your command after your dog begins to paw the treat in your closed palm.
- Your order can be any word, although often used are “Shake” or “Paw.”
- Tell it clear and loud enough for your dog to hear.
- Do not change it, as this will confuse your dog, once you have chosen the command.
- Maintain any short command. Usually, one word is the finest command.
Step 7: Start with your command beforehand.
It is time to start speaking before your dog paws for the treat. Once you’ve started utilizing your vocal command, Your dog should respond irrespective of the treat.
- This phase helps him comprehend that the vocal order is a signal to shake his paw.
- As soon as you utter your order, your dog will bring up his paw.
- You should only give him the pleasure and praise once he shakes.
- If your dog doesn’t put his paw in order, try it again. Stop for a bit and try again late, if it’s not around 15 minutes later. You don’t want to exhaust your dog.
Step 8: Only reward your dog after the command is complete.
Your dog will get distracted for a reward or for any other action. Never provide him a reward till he has executed the order. otherwise, he might see your gifts as bribes.
- If the dog did not perform “shake” as expected, don’t get furious and reward your dog with the treatment. Renunciation like this will convey a message that he will get treat if he sits and ignores you.
- Realize that your dog is always careful. Any treatment provided to him links to anything he did at the time.
- Your dog would want to receive treats. Once he gets the link that an act gains something delicious for him, he is willing to act in this way. Both good and negative behavior is important. Know this when you reward your dog.
Step 9: Begin to cut the treats.
You must stop issuing behavioral treats. Do this in a progressive manner only when he executes the “shake” command every other time. Replace love or other benefits in the place of treats, such as a stroll or a playtime.
- Continue to practice until he “shakes” without a treat.
- You might try giving an empty hand without a reward, When you start this step.
Step 10: Introduce challenges.
Once the “shake” command is familiar, attempt to introduce difficulties. Wait for a situation that disturbs your dog, Like visits to a crowded area or someone who comes to the door, and order it.
When you teach a dog how to shake hands/paw you must remain calm and take it one step at a time. Don’t immediately seek final results for the training of dogs. You are aiming for small steps and that is achievable.
Step 11: Try the other hand to shake.
Follow the same training order as you performed first hand. The key change will be that your dog shakes with the desired paw and you pay for the treat in your opposite hand.
Try introducing different words for right or left paw handshakes. once your dog knows the fundamental handshake practice
Use a command word different. Try using “Paw” In case if you have been using “Shake.”
This implies you will want to “shake” the dog on many sites. Like increasing distractions and high reward rates so they will succeed.
Short cuts:
- Take your dog’s paw, shake it and say “shake”. This is a simple method.
- For a while, repeat it.
- Then they do it when you say shake.
You hinder your dog from learning things by themselves if you do this. It prevents them from using their thought process. Hence, this is not a recommended procedure, though the results are good.
Cautions:
- Try to train your dog when he is lazy. If you prefer to attempt to train them when they are active, it may not bring the effects you seek.
- Stop the lessons immediately if your dogs are frustrated
- Do not punish your pets if they don’t do well
- The workouts should not be longer than 10 minutes once or twice a day
How to teach a dog to give a high five?
Use the same handshake procedure.
- For a while, repeat it.
- Then motivate to do it saying “Yes”.
- Place your hands vertically rather than linking them horizontally.
How can I train my dog to shake hands without treats?
If you are concerned about the medical conditions or diet routines of your dog, You may be looking how to teach a dog to shake hands/paw without treats. Treats are a source of motivation for anybody including us and dogs.
Treats need not necessarily be Food. It can be motivational, Enthusiastic and Joyful.
- Verbal Reinforcement : If your likes attention, The best way to motivate them is by verbal reinforcement.
- Favourite Toy as treat: The toy that he likes can be a source of motivation. You can make use of the toy in place of treats.
- Meal Time Training: You can incorporate training during meal time as your dog is focused on hunger. Here you use their meal in place of treat for motivation.
- Love and Affection: The stronger bond you have with your pet, The stronger it acts as a source of motivation. Chose your way of expressing your love like positive playing, cuddling, grooming or exercising.
My dog is not getting it, Am I doing it wrong?
Have Patience first. When your dog is not getting it and doesn’t give up at any point. Learning style and pace vary from dog to dog and breed to breed.
Sometimes teaching an arrogant dog might be the challenge you are facing.
All that you need to focus on is the training style you use, the Training method you use and the frequency of training. Observe the response pattern of your dog and decide accordingly.
A Short Blurb:
How to teach a dog to shake hands is a common concern as a dog parent. Training a dog to shake hands is a simple 11 step process. We begin by introducing a Reward to shake hands. When your dog gets used to this withdraw the reward. Now, Your dog is ready and can shake hands with anybody in any situation. If you are looking to stay away from treats you can use other sources of motivation. Determine the training methodology, Style and Frequency based on your dogs response.
Credit: Photo by Daniel Martins and Tamas Pap on Unsplash.
