Shake
Tricks · 5 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to shake a paw for the verbal cue 'Shake'.
For this plan you will also need:
**- A Marker:** such as a clicker or a verbal word like "Yes" to instantly mark the correct behavior. This bridges the gap between the behavior happening and the time it takes to deliver reinforcement, helping Your Dog understand exactly what they did right.
Training steps
Present a closed hand with a treat to prompt pawing
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Cue Your Dog to sit, then close a treat in your fist and hold your hand near one of Your Dog's paws. Wait to see if they paw at your hand. Mark and reinforce when they do.
Success: Your Dog shakes their paw.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Present an open hand
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Present your open hand near Your Dog's paw and wait to see if they paw at it. Mark and reinforce when they do.
Success: Your Dog shakes their paw.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab paw
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Present your hand near Your Dog's paw. When they paw it, gently grab their paw for 1 second before marking and reinforcing.
Success: Your Dog shakes their paw.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and shake paw
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Present your hand near Your Dog's paw. When they paw it, grab their paw and shake it up and down a few times before marking and reinforcing.
Success: Your Dog shakes their paw.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Say 'Shake', then present your hand near Your Dog's paw. Mark and reinforce when they shake.
Success: Your Dog shakes their paw.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Good job! You've laid a strong foundation for Shake.
Now it's time to proof Your Dog's new skill. You can restart the plan using proof steps, or play games with the goals you just earned. Practice both in different locations and around distractions.