Shake / Paw

Difficulty: beginner

Estimated time: 2-5 days

Prerequisites: o1

Supplies: small treats, optional clicker

Age suitability: From about 10 weeks; no upper age limit.

Physical suitability: Generally safe. Do not force paw lift for dogs with shoulder discomfort.

Why dogs take to it: Many dogs naturally paw for attention, making this easy to capture.

Breed tendencies: Retrievers, poodles, and many terriers often learn quickly.

Verbal cues: shake, paw, gimme

Hand signal: Open palm at chest height.

History: “Shake hands” appears in dog manuals from the 1800s.