Shake-a-Paw is one of my favorite tricks. It’s a pretty easy dog trick to teach, too.
Shake-a-Paw looks like a doggie handshake. Your dog puts his paw in your hand and lets you shake it. It’s fun for showing off to visitors, and it’s a good, easy place to start before teaching other cool dog tricks.
I’m going to explain how to train the shake-a-paw trick with a clicker. If you haven’t started clicker dog training, just use treats.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A dog training clicker for instant feedback.
- The dog needs to be “charged” for the clicker. (Charging the clicker)
- Your dog’s favorite treats are a useful incentive both with or without the clicker.
How to Teach the Shake-a-Paw Dog Trick
To teach shake-a-paw, first you’ll “explain” to your dog that you’re teaching him a new behavior. Then you’ll coax your dog to try it himself, then you’ll start working on a command phrase and practice.
If you’ve already had success with basic obedience training, then you and your dog will be finished training the shake-a-paw trick anywhere between a couple of days, and about a week.
- Optional: Take your dog’s paw in your hand, and hold it roughly at his head’s height. Wait a second, then click the clicker, praise him, and offer a treat. This tells your dog, you want him to put his paw in your hand.
Repeat that simple step often, over several short, high-energy training sessions.
- Put out your hand in waiting for Shake-a-Paw, and use your other hand to tap your dog’s paw or pat the floor. If your dog lifts his paw even a bit, he’s earned a click of the clicker. Putting his paw in your hand earns your dog a treat and some love.
Repeat that step until your dog quickly places his paw in your hand whenever you offer yours.
- Now it’s time to add the command word. “Shake,” or “shake-a-paw,” or “shake hands” – anything short, just stick with the same word or words forever. State the command just before you offer your hand for a shake. He should already be shaking hands reliably before you start this step, so now you’re adding a word to the habit.
- Gradually fade out the use of the clicker and treats, but continue the training with the command word and the shake-a-paw trick.
That’s it! To reinforce the shake-a-paw trick has been completely learned at this point, you should try repeating it in different places, and letting other people perform the trick with your dog.
Click for more dog tricks and training exercises that work easier and faster with the clicker dog training tool.
Back to how to train a dog, or how to teach dog tricks.