Shake / Paw
A classic trick that builds engagement and is a crowd-pleaser — plus it makes nail handling easier down the line.
Adolescent Note
Tricks are underrated for adolescent dogs. They provide mental stimulation, build the training relationship, and give Bryn ways to earn attention through polite behavior rather than jumping or mouthing.
Training Stages
Get Bryn offering her paw reliably.
- Ask Bryn to sit. Hold a treat in your closed fist at her chest level.
- Wait. She'll try nosing, licking — eventually she'll paw at your hand. The instant a paw lifts, mark and treat.
- If she's not offering a paw, try holding the treat slightly to one side to shift her weight.
- Repeat until she's lifting her paw readily when your fist is presented.
Advance When
Bryn lifts her paw and touches your closed fist 8 out of 10 times within 3 seconds.
Watch Out
Grabbing her paw and shaking it. Let her offer the behavior — forced paw-giving doesn't teach anything.
Marking too late — you want to catch the PAW LIFT, not the full extended shake.
Tips
Some dogs are natural 'pawers' and pick this up in minutes. Others need more patience.
If she's not offering her paw at all, try tickling the back of her leg gently to prompt the motion.
Refine the paw lift into a proper handshake.
- Present your open palm instead of a closed fist.
- When she places her paw in your hand, gently hold it for a beat, mark and treat.
- Add the cue: say "shake" or "paw" THEN present your hand.
- Practice with both the left and right hand.
Advance When
Bryn places her paw in your open palm on cue, holds for 1–2 seconds.
Watch Out
Holding the paw too long — keep it brief and fun.
Squeezing the paw. A gentle hold is enough.
Tips
This trick has a practical side: a dog comfortable with paw handling is easier to nail-trim and check for injuries.
Try teaching 'other paw' as a second cue for the opposite foot.
Proofing — The 3 Ds
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Duration
Not really applicable — shake is a momentary trick.
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Distance
Practice at arm's length, then with your hand presented from slightly different positions.
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Distraction
Practice with visitors, in new rooms, outdoors.
Generalization
Practice with different people offering their hands. Many dogs learn to shake with their owner but are confused when someone else asks. Have friends and family practice too.
Troubleshooting
Bryn paws at you constantly for attention now
Only reinforce the paw when you've cued it. If she's offering unsolicited paws, ignore them completely. Reward her for other behaviors (sitting calmly, lying down).
Bryn only uses one paw
Dogs have paw preferences, just like handedness. You can teach the other paw with a separate cue ('other paw' or 'high five'), but it takes more patience.
Related Skills
Sit
The simplest position cue and often the first skill a dog learns — a building block for impulse control and polite greetings.
Touch (Nose Target)
Teaching Bryn to boop her nose to your palm on cue — a versatile behavior used for recall, positioning, and confidence building.