How to Teach a Dog to Shake (give paw)

Animal training is a matter of repetition and reinforcement.

Training animals to perform on command is a matter of repetition and reinforcement. Animal training takes on different forms for enhancement of work, play and companionship skills. To elicit a change in behavior the animal must come to associate a behavior, or set of behaviors, with producing an outcome the animal regards as a positive. While teaching some behaviors can take extensive training, simple tricks like teaching a dog to shake on command can be accomplished in a few sessions.

Things You'll Need

• Dog treats

Instructions

1. Start teaching the dog to give its paw at as early of an age as possible.

2. Have the dog sit while facing you. Reach down and pick up the animal's right paw while saying "shake."

3. Praise the dog in a soft tone. Release the paw and give the animal a treat as a reward. Repeat the sequence four times in quick succession and then give the dog a break for at least an hour. Repeat the session three times on the first day of training.

4. Start the second day of training by speaking the shake command three times before lifting the paw. If the dog does not present its paw reach down and lift the paw while giving the command. Praise the dog and offer a treat. Repeat the procedure until the dog begins to lift its paw on its own.

5. Praise the dog profusely the first few times it properly executes the command. Continue to offer treats until the dog shakes on command every time without fail.

6. Wean the dog off the treats gradually as it becomes accustomed to performing the trick. For example, start giving treats every other time the dog executes the command, then every third and fourth time. Reduce the frequency of using treats as rewards until the dog continually responds to the command without the reward of a treat.

7. Continue to always reward the dog with praise wherever the animal performs the command properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Some animals learn to obey a command very quickly, especially when young, while others require a more extensive training period. If the animal demonstrates difficulty learning the command be patient and persistent.

• Scolding or punishing a dog for not performing a command will set back training.

References

• "Dog Obedience Training"; Milo Perarsall and Charles Leedham; 1969

Resources

• Dog Gone Good LLC: Articles