How to Teach Dog to Shake Hands

Shake hands — or "paw" — is one of the most charming tricks you can teach your dog. It's also surprisingly easy to train, usually taking just a few short sessions. Once your dog knows shake, it's a crowd-pleaser that shows off just how smart they are.

What You'll Need

• Treats and a treat pouch: Small, soft treats work best. A treat pouch with magnetic closure keeps rewards ready so you can mark and reward instantly.
• A training clicker: A dog training clicker helps mark the exact moment your dog lifts their paw, speeding up the learning process.

Prerequisites

Your dog should know "sit" before you teach shake. Shake is always performed from a sitting position, so a reliable sit makes the whole process much smoother.

Step-by-Step: How to Teach Shake Hands

Step 1: Ask for a Sit

Ask your dog to sit and make sure they're calm and focused. Hold a treat in your closed fist at their chest level.

Step 2: Wait for the Paw

Hold your closed fist in front of your dog. Most dogs will sniff it, then paw at it trying to get the treat. The moment their paw touches your hand, click and open your fist to give the treat. Don't prompt them — just wait. Patience is key here.

Step 3: Repeat Until Reliable

Repeat 8–10 times per session. Your dog will quickly learn that pawing at your hand makes the treat appear. Once they're consistently offering their paw, move to the next step.

Step 4: Open Your Hand

Instead of a closed fist, hold out an open flat hand at their chest level. Wait for them to place their paw in your hand. Click and reward the moment they do. This is the actual "shake" motion.

Step 5: Add the Verbal Cue

Once your dog is reliably placing their paw in your open hand, say "shake" (or "paw") just before you extend your hand. Say it once, then present your hand. Click and reward when they respond correctly.

Step 6: Add a Gentle Shake

Once the behavior is solid, gently close your fingers around their paw and give a small shake before releasing and rewarding. This completes the full handshake motion.

Step 7: Teach the Other Paw

Once "shake" is solid with one paw, teach "other paw" using the same process but presenting your other hand. Use a different cue word like "other" or "left" to distinguish between the two.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

My dog just stares at my hand and doesn't paw at it

Try gently tapping their leg just above the paw to prompt the lifting motion. Click and reward any paw lift, even a tiny one, and build from there.

My dog uses their nose instead of their paw

Hold your fist slightly higher so they can't reach it with their nose. This naturally encourages them to use their paw instead.

My dog grabs my hand too hard

Only click and reward gentle paw placements. If they scratch or grab hard, simply withdraw your hand and try again. They'll learn that gentle contact is what earns the reward.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Shake?

Most dogs learn the basic shake motion in 1–2 sessions. Adding the verbal cue and generalizing to different people usually takes 3–5 days of practice. It's one of the fastest tricks to teach.

Final Thoughts

Shake hands is a fun, easy trick that strengthens your bond with your dog and impresses everyone they meet. With a treat pouch and a clicker, you can have this trick solid in just a few days. Once they've got it, practice it with friends and family — the more people your dog shakes hands with, the more reliable it becomes.