The first dog trick that is generally taught a dog is to shake
hands, and there are very few puppy and dog owners who do not
teach their pets this simple trick.
In most cases it is so easily accomplished that the amateur
trainer does not know exactly how it was done, for if you take
hold of a dog’s paw and say “paw” or “shake” and repeat the
performance often enough and at odd times, it will be the most
natural thing for a dog to place his paw in your hand as soon as
you extend it and he hears the word “paw,” to which he has
become accustomed.
If during the training you always take hold of the right paw,
this paw will always be the one he will give you, but he can be
taught to give you the left paw by taking it when you make the
request. You can make the performance more interesting by saying
“shake hands” when you want the right paw and when you want the
left paw say “left paw.”
This gives your audience the impression that your dog
understands that it is customary to shake hands with the right
hand and that he also possesses a left paw, in fact that is what
he actually learns.
Should your dog offer you the left paw when you ask to “shake
hands,” repeat your command distinctly, and when he sees, after
a moment or two, that you are not going to take the paw he
offers, he will put it down and in all probability offer you the
other paw, which is the one you want.
You should take it promptly and hold it for a minute, then pat
him on the head and impress on him that he has pleased you by
praising and giving him a treat. This trick of shaking hands can
also be varied by asking the dog to show you his pulse, or the
trick can be farther elaborated by saying to your dog when you
want to show him off to friends or acquaintances:
“Buddy, old man, you are not looking well this morning; come
here and let me feel your pulse,”
and by putting a little emphasis on the word “pulse” the dog
will come up to you and offer you his paw, and if you take it
with an air of gravity it will impress your audience with your
dog’s talent.
Some dogs, after sufficient practice at this trick, get so
habitual that they continually offer their paw to every one who
will take it, and a case is recorded of a half-grown puppy of
one of the larger breeds which was so accustomed to offering his
paw that one day when a strange cat made its appearance on the
premises before the puppy. He made a rush at the intruder with
every appearance of hostility, but when near the cat habit
gained a mastery over instinct, and held out his paw as usual to
offer a friendly hand shake.
Enjoy teaching your dog the hand shake trick and most
importantly have fun!
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