Teaching your Dog “Shake Hands” Through Havanese Training
Many Havanese owners are aware that their dog outshines other dog breeds for being among the smartest, and for not thinking twice about showing before the family and friends just how talented they are! Indeed, Hav dog owners the world over have come to see that teaching the dog some commands is as simple as getting them to follow a simple action or routine.
Let’s take “shake hands” for example. Most people actually only hold the dog’s paw, and say to it “shake” over and over again. Then the day comes when the dog is asked to shake hands, and it actually does! So all this shows that the dog also needs time, sometimes several weeks worth, in order to allow the dog to gradually absorb training information.
Another havanese training technique that appears more methodical is to hold a treat in the fist in front of the dog. Then the dog will try to check out your hand using their nose and mouth, but wait for the dog to eventually start pawing at your hand. Praise the dog effusively if they paw. Some re-training, on the other hand, may be needed in case some dogs are not used to using their paws when sitting.
At least one has claimed that the trick can be taught by putting one’s hand down, palm up on the ground, then with the same hand nudge the knee of the dog to make it lift its paw. When it does so, the owner needs to slide his or her hand under the paw and lavish praise on the dog.
If you want to try out a clicker training method, you will also need to get a tupperware cover. Place the treat on the floor and let the dog see you cover it with the cover. Now, the dog is expected to paw at the cover so it could see the treat. Click, and give the treat when they touch the tupperware. Repeat from the start up to covering the treat with the tupperware, but this time place your hand on the cover. When the dog’s paw touches your hand, click and give treat. Last of all, your hand becomes the cue, and this time there is no treat or tupperware. Then insert the word “Paw” (or “shake hands”) when the dog touches your hand. Click and treat to punctuate this havanese training.
