Commands

How to Teach Your Dog to Shake Hands

Shake is a classic trick that takes 5 minutes to teach and impresses everyone. Here's the step-by-step method.

Maximizing Your "Shake" Training Success

To ensure your "shake" training sessions are effective and enjoyable for both you and your dog, always keep them short, positive, and frequent. Aim for 2-5 minute sessions, 2-3 times a day, especially when starting out. This prevents your dog from becoming bored or frustrated and helps them retain what they've learned. Always end on a positive note, even if it means asking for an easier, already mastered behavior and rewarding heavily.

Utilize high-value treats during your training. These are treats your dog absolutely loves and doesn't get often, making them a powerful motivator. As your dog becomes more consistent, you can gradually introduce variable reinforcement, meaning you don't reward every single perfect "shake" but keep them guessing, which actually strengthens the behavior. Remember to fade any lures quickly by making them smaller and eventually just a verbal cue and a subtle hand gesture.

Once your dog reliably performs "shake" in a quiet, familiar environment, it's time to generalize the behavior. Practice in different locations around your home, then move to your backyard, and eventually to public places with mild distractions. Gradually increase the level of distraction, always setting your dog up for success and rewarding generously for their focus and effort. This proofing ensures your dog understands the "shake" cue applies everywhere, not just in specific contexts.

Teaching "shake" (paw/handshake) is one of the fastest tricks to teach — most dogs get it in a single session. It's a great foundation for more complex paw-based tricks like "wave" and "high five."

Method 1: Lure and Capture (Easiest)

Step 1: Have your dog sit. Hold a treat in your closed fist at paw height. Most dogs will first sniff, then paw at your closed hand. The moment they paw at your hand, open it and give the treat.

Step 2: Repeat 10 times until the dog reliably paws your closed fist. Now open your hand flat (as if offering to shake) just before they paw it. Click/treat when paw meets hand.

Step 3: Add the cue "shake" just before you present your hand. After 20 repetitions, test with only the verbal cue and a slightly raised hand — fade the fist-height cue gradually.

Method 2: Targeting

If your dog doesn't paw at your hand naturally: Place your hand on the floor palm up. Tap the floor with your fingers to draw attention. Some dogs will sniff and then accidentally paw it. Click and treat any paw movement toward your hand. Shape this into a reliable paw-to-hand contact.

Troubleshooting

Dog won't lift paw: Try lightly touching one paw (not grabbing — just touching the back of the paw). This often triggers a paw lift from ticklish dogs. Click/treat the lift immediately.

Dog uses mouth instead of paw: Hold the treat fist higher, just above nose height. This naturally shifts attention upward and reduces mouthing.

Extending to High Five and Wave

Once shake is solid: raise your hand higher for "high five." For "wave," hold your hand just out of reach so the dog paws the air — click/treat this air paw and call it "wave."