Training & Exercise

Teach Your Dog to Shake Hands-Left and Right

When shaking hands, your polite pooch raises his paw to chest height, allowing guests to shake his paw. This skill is taught for both paws.

Shake

Step 1– With your dog sitting in front of you, hide a treat in your right hand, low to the ground. Encourage your dog to paw at it by saying “get it” and “shake”. Reward your dog with the treat the moment his left paw comes off the ground.

Shake 2

Step 2-Gradually raise the height of your hand, upping the ante, until he is lifting his paw to chest height.

Shake 3Step 3– Transition to using the hand signal. Stand up and hold the treat in your left hand, behind your back, and extend your right hand while cuing “shake”. When your dog paws your extended hand, support his paw in the air while you reward him with the treat from behind your back.

Step 4- Repeat these steps on the opposite side to teach “paw”.

What to expect: Any dog can learn this trick, and it’s always an enduring gesture. Practice a couple of times per day, and always leave off on a high note. Chain these behaviors together to alternate “shake” and “paw” in quick succession.

Trouble shooting:

  • Instead of pawing at your hand, your dog noses it. Bop his nose a little to discourage this. He may try barking, nuzzling or doing nothing. Be patient, and keep encouraging him. If he is not lifting his paw on his own, tap or barely lift it for him and then reward.
  • Build on it! Once you’ve mastered shake hands and paw, use a similar action and wave good bye.
  • Tip-Use the word “good” to mark the exact instant your dog performed the desired behavior.

101 Dog Tricks

About the author

Elle

Our site was created out of our overwhelming love for dogs! We are constantly researching, reviewing and experimenting with new products, concepts and ideas regarding the overall well-being of our canine partners. Our life's mission is to educate the dog consumer so that you may make healthier choices for your beloved pet so that they experience a happy, healthy, joyous life! Anything you want to know about dogs you will without a doubt find here. We are All That Dog and much more!

Bio

My name is Elle and I have owned dogs my entire life. I knew as a young child that I was destined to work with animals. As a child I volunteered at local shelters in my area as a dog walker and a kennel technician. I have always had an overwhelming desire to save every stray dog that I encountered, much to the dismay of my family.

My rewarding career began in 1998 when I attended Diamond Cut Dog Grooming school in Medina, Ohio and became a Certified Dog Groomer. After grooming dogs for 3 years in pet shops and grooming salons, I came to the conclusion that, many of the dogs, as sweet and loving as they were, needed to learn some basic manners to improve the quality of their lives as well as their owners. I decided to enroll in dog training school and attended National K9 School for Dog Trainers located in Columbus, Ohio. Upon graduation, I became a certified professional dog trainer qualified to instruct in a number of areas including, Basic and Advanced Obedience, Tracking, Personal Protection, Police K9, Puppy Development, Utility and Handicap Assistance. I am also an evaluator for AKC Star Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, Community & Urban Canine classes and testing.

In 2001, this Chicago born yankee, her husband and our 4 dogs, relocated to the southern United States and decided to establish my own dog grooming, training and boarding facility, so in 2005 K9 Country Spa & Resort LLC was born.

After examining the skin and coats of hundreds of dogs over the years, I began to notice a common denominator. Poor nutrition, mainly the result of commercial dog food and lack of consumer education. So for the next 10 years, I researched and experimented on both my dogs and the boarding kennel guests, experimenting with everything from homemade and raw dog food to aromatherapy, homeopathy, essential oils, flower essences, herbs and supplements, dedicated to improving the lives of man's best friend. All the dogs that board at K9 Country are served healthy, homemade dog food and treats daily, enjoy aromatherapy and massage in the spa and frolick in the play areas overlooking the beautiful, manmade lake.

Shortly after opening the resort, I volunteered and joined my local kennel club. That is where I discovered dog sports and was instantly hooked on competition. I fell in love with Agility, Rally-O, Scent Detection, Obedience, Nose-work and Barn-Hunt.You name it - we love it!! I have titled dogs in Rally and Agility and continue to compete in these venues while having fun and bonding with my dogs.

So, I truly hope you enjoy the site and receive as much joy and knowledge viewing it as I have enjoyed creating it!

Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.” —Dean Koontz (author, Whispers)

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.” —Gilda Radner (comedienne)