The Best Dog Training Tips on How to Shake

Guests are usually charmed when a well-mannered dog sits politely and offers his paw to them. "Shake" is a showy trick compared to more utilitarian ones like "sit" and "down," but it's one of the easiest tricks to teach a dog. Once Fido catches on, you might even have trouble getting to him stop shaking. Here are some training tips to teach a dog to shake.

  1. Teach Basic Commands First

    • To learn new tricks, a dog must have an established relationship with the owner. Rover needs to know that you are a constant source of treats and praise. Your dog should know basic commands such as come, sit and stay. Sit is especially important, since you'll be requiring your dog to shake from a sitting position. Knowledge of these basic commands will make Rover more receptive when you teach him to shake.

    Have Treats On Hand

    • Dogs learn fastest when they are rewarded for good behavior. This positive reinforcement matches their natural desire to please. Have plenty of treats and goodies available to reward your dog with whenever he shakes correctly. The ultimate goal is to get the dog to shake without a reward of food, but in the beginning, treats are important.

    Physically Show The Dog

    • When you first start out teaching your dog to shake, you'll probably need to demonstrate the behavior. Say "shake" (or "howdy" or "make a friend" or whatever command you've decided to use), then lift one of the dog's forelegs into your hand. Try to use the same leg every time to minimize confusion. If you find it difficult to lift the dog's leg, try pushing on its left shoulder. This will move the dog's center of gravity, allowing you to lift the right front leg. Once the maneuver is accomplished, even if only by you, give praise and a small treat.

    Repetition

    • Dogs learn by repetition. This means that you'll need to keep doing the same thing over and over again. With shaking and most other tricks, the dog learns to associate an action (shaking hands) with a treat. So even if your dog has gotten to the point where it doesn't need the treat anymore, you should still set aside practice sessions in which you reward your dog with a treat. This will help cement the "shake" command