Want to impress your friends and bond with your pup at the same time? Teaching your dog to “shake” is one of the easiest tricks to learn—and one of the cutest. It’s more than a party trick: it builds trust, boosts confidence, and turns your dog into a polite little paw-giver. Here’s how to make it happen.
1. Start With Sit
Before any handshake happens, your dog should know how to sit. This gives them a stable position to lift a paw from. If they don’t know “sit” yet, start there first—it’s the foundation for many tricks.
2. Get Treats, Lots of Them
Find a treat your dog absolutely loves—chicken, cheese, or store-bought rewards. Hold it in your hand and let your dog sniff it to grab their attention. Motivation is key!
3. Use a Verbal Cue and Gesture
Say “shake” or “paw” while gently tapping or lifting one of their front paws. As soon as their paw lifts—even just a little—reward with a treat and praise. Timing matters here: reward immediately so they connect the paw movement to the command.
4. Repeat, But Don’t Overdo It
Practice a few times per session—3 to 5 minutes is plenty. Overdoing it can frustrate your pup. Keep it short, positive, and end on a win.
5. Fade the Physical Help
After a few sessions, your dog should begin offering their paw on their own. When that happens, stop lifting their leg yourself and just use the verbal cue + hand gesture.
6. Reinforce Randomly
Once they’ve got the trick down, don’t reward every time. Random rewards help your dog stay sharp and engaged. Mix in belly rubs, a happy voice, or even a play session as a reward.
7. Show Off That Shake
Once your dog has mastered it, you’ve got a great go-to trick to entertain guests or snap adorable photos. Plus, it’s a gateway to more advanced tricks like “high five” or “wave.”
