How to Teach your Dog the Trick “Shake-a-Paw”
Step no 1: Make sure your dog sits. Go down on your knees so that both of you are on the same level. Then hide a treat in your left hand while giving him the stay command.
Entice him by placing the treat close to his mouth and allow him to smell it, but not eat it until you let him know it is fine to take it. Now use your right hand to gently lift up his left paw, while you say the word “Shake”.
Hold the paw for a few more seconds repeating “Shake” four or five times. Then lower the paw and release it. Immediately after you have done so praise your dog, open your hand and let him eat the treat.
Second step: It is all about repetition now. You should lift his paw a few times and say “Shake” a few times before releasing his paw. To do this, practice no longer than ten minutes at a time. Don’t do it more than three times per day.
Why not extending the individual sessions? Because after more than ten minutes your dog can lose his concentration and will lose interest. Don’t ask too much of him. What will happen after a few days of practice is this: when you say “Shake” your dog will lift his paw by himself. Now it’s time to move on to step no 3.
Step 3: Time now to get your dog to obey the command of “Shake”, rather than him depending on any hand actions from yourself.
And this is how it works: Place your right hand directly in front of his right paw. Then say “Shake”. Grab his paw only in case he lifts it from the bottom. If he does so give him his usual treat.
If his paw was already off the ground before you gave the command “Shake”, do not touch his paw until after you have given the command.
Now again repeat this step for some days. What will happen is this: After a while your dog will not raise his paw before he had heard the command “Shake” from you.
Learn more about Hund erziehen. Stop by Dirk Gruenberg’s site where you can find out all about Hundeerziehung and what it can do for you.
