How do you teach "Shake"?

dobe8 · 05-26-2008, 02:53 PM

This sounds so stupid, but I have yet to figure out how to teach "shake".

I have taught Sierra to speak, sing, and hug in addition to basic obedience.

What other cool tricks are there and how do you teach them?

**Burns** · 05-26-2008, 03:30 PM

I taught "shake" before I started clicker training or knew much about how to train... I did it by saying the command and lifting his paw at the same time, then giving a treat. (always use the same paw at first) Then we progressed to just touching the underside of his ankle and saying "shake" and he would lift it and get a treat. Then he figured out what I wanted him to do and started doing it all by himself. Actually, this was one of the first commands I taught him when he was pretty young and he caught on pretty quick. He only seems to shake with his left paw though. I'd like to try saying "shake left" or "shake right" and having him know which one to bring up.

DobeSpell · 05-26-2008, 03:42 PM

It's our "Hi' command.
First I'd give him hand and tell Hi, and then take his paw and shake it and praise him. I did that 100 times per day with no result

. I gave up.

Then once while we're playing the ball, after he brought it and nervously waiting for me to throw it again, I gave him command “sit" then “hi”, I gave him my hand and repeated all above. While praising him I threw the ball. He learned instantly. Giving paw (shake) means throwing the ball. Next round he quickly gave the paw

.

Now he gives paw whenever he wants something like treat or turn on/off TV or when he wants to apologize etc.

**triciakoontz** · 05-26-2008, 03:45 PM

I love the turn and spin trick (I use turn for one direction and spin for the other). I am a clicker trainer so I just lured with food and click for position. If you use the food lure, be sure to fade it quickly so you don't have to depend on it. Also, I would teach another cue in between "turn" and "spin" so that the dog does not get really confused.

If you Google "teach a dog to shake" you will come up with about 15 sites with steps to train it using positive reinforcement!

thea2003 · 05-26-2008, 04:21 PM

i cant remember how i taught mine but she was the first in her class to learn i believe it is luring her with a treat and when she starts to slap at your hand you you click and treat and then out your palm out and click and treat when she touches it. She also knows wave and high five now...really just different versions of shake, i will find my instruction sheet tonight when i get home from work. lol yes I am so addicted i am here at work playing on computer.

**TracyJo** · 05-26-2008, 05:57 PM

My daughter taught Chi to shake the same way Burns taught Red.
I'm a big fan of "play dead" or "bang" in this house. Yesterday when it was time to do her nails, I "shot" her, she fell to her side and held each paw out for me to trim and file! Hubby was wicked impressed too

I explain how I taught it in this thread: Play dead, rollover and say goodbye