Barking Up The Wrong Tree

How To Teach Your Dog To Shake Hands

Training your dog to respond to a few verbal commands is rewarding and always impresses visitors.  Training stimulates your dog and more breeds enjoy it - especially the treats.  Here is a short guide on how to train your dog to shake hands:

1 - Have your dog sit down
2 – Say your prompt words (you could use ‘shake hands’ or ‘shake a paw’ but whichever you choose, be consistent and don’t change it) and pick up his paw in your hand
3 – Hold the paw and say ‘Good boy’ or ‘Good girl’
4 – Let go of his paw and reward with a small, tasty treat
5 – Repeat steps 1 – 4 a few times each day

After a while you can say your prompt words but don’t take his paw, just see if he raises his paw on his own.  If he doesn’t then take his paw and carry on as before.  Eventually, he will do it by himself.  If it takes months, don’t worry, your dog is learning but you must be consistent and do it every day

Thanks to 77track7 for the photo of Cobalt, the miniature Australian sheepdog