How to Teach a Yorkie to Give a High 5

In addition to being cute, Yorkshire terriers --- among the most beloved breeds in the U.S. --- are intelligent and generally easy to train. Though dogs respond best to training at a young age, older Yorkies can learn to do simple tricks such as sitting and shaking hands. The "high five" trick is an amusing variation of the handshaking trick. Your dog should learn how to sit and shake hands before learning the high five.

Things You'll Need

  • Clicker
  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Break treats into small pieces so you don't overfeed the Yorkie during training.

    • 2

      Place the treats in your pocket or another easily accessible location.

    • 3

      Give your dog the "sit" command. It should sit obediently. If it hasn't learned how to sit, teach your dog the "sit" command before proceeding.

    • 4

      Squat down so you are close to the dog's level.

    • 5

      Say clearly "Slap me five!" "High five!" or the command of your choice, and hold up your dominant hand as though giving a high five. Your dog may give you its paw as though performing the requisite "shake" trick. Do not shake its paw. Instead, take the paw with your nondominant hand and high-five it with your dominant hand. Follow this action with a click, praise and a treat. If you don't have a clicker, just praise the dog and give it a treat.

    • 6

      Repeat this process a few times every day until your dog raises its hand on its own to give a high five. Once the dog learns the trick, have it perform it with other family members and guests.