Wave
Tricks · 12 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to wave their paw for a hand signal and the verbal cue 'Wave'.
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
Warm up with high five
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Cue Your Dog to sit, then crouch down and present your hand for a high five. Mark and reinforce when they do. Do not say the high five cue.
Success: Your Dog does a high five.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Move your hand just out of reach
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Present your hand for a high five, just out of reach so that when Your Dog tries to give you one, they miss and paw the air instead. That is the beginning of a wave! Mark the moment they lift their paw into the air, then reinforce.
Success: Your Dog lifts a paw once.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add distance
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Present your hand for a high five 1 foot away from Your Dog. Mark the moment they lift their paw into the air, then reinforce.
Success: Your Dog lifts a paw once.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Wait for 2 paws
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Present your hand for a high five 1 foot away from Your Dog and wait for them to paw the air 2 times before marking and reinforcing.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the hand signal
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Wave while crouching down 1 foot away from Your Dog and wait for them to paw the air 2 times before marking and reinforcing.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Stand up before waving
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Stand up and wave at Your Dog from 1 foot away. Wait for them to paw the air 2 times before marking and reinforcing. If standing prompts Your Dog to move onto their hind legs, try bending over a bit so you can wave on their level.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Say 'Wave', then wave at Your Dog from 1 foot away. Wait for Your Dog to paw the air 2 to 3 times before marking and reinforcing.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Only the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Say the verbal cue 'Wave', then wait to see if Your Dog paws the air 2 to 3 times before marking and reinforcing.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Wave from 2 feet
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Cue Your Dog to sit and stay, then walk 2 feet away and cue 'Wave'. If they get up to move closer, say "Oops" and try again. If Your Dog is struggling to stay at a distance, try practicing on a raised surface or platform to help encourage staying in position.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Wave from 3 feet
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Cue Your Dog to sit and stay, then walk 3 feet away and cue 'Wave'. If they get up to move closer, say "Oops" and try again. If Your Dog is struggling to stay at a distance, try practicing on a raised surface or platform to help encourage staying in position.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Wave from 5 feet
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Cue Your Dog to sit and stay, then walk 5 feet away and cue 'Wave'. If they get up to move closer, say "Oops" and try again.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Wave from 10 feet
Setup: Your Dog is in sit.
Cue Your Dog to sit and stay, then walk 10 feet away and cue 'Wave'. If they get up to move closer, say "Oops" and try again.
Success: Your Dog waves.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Good job! You've laid a strong foundation for Wave.
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.