Does Your Dog Shake

[Chip's Mom]

At obedience class last week, the instructor was teaching us how to teach our dogs to shake hands. Poor Chip with those short little legs of his didn't do very well. The instructor said that he has to use muscles he normally doesn't use and that his little legs are so short so I am not going to teach him to shake hands. I wondered if anyone else had run into this?

[Jeni D]

Dudley can't shake either! I've tried repeatedly to get him to do it and everytime I try, he just lays down. I, too, have just decided that Dudley was not meant to shake...he's just above this trick

[corgimom]

Cody knows how to shake paw - I taught him when he was between 4 and
5 months old. The way I did this was I put him in a "sit" position and I knelt down in front of him. I picked up his paw(and held it) and kept saying "shake paw" and at the very same time was putting a treat into his mouth (I did about 4 or 5 repetitions ) each time I practiced with him, and we practiced this different times throughout the day and it only took 2 or 3 days and he "got it". It is very cute. This is what worked for me, others may have different suggestions.

Linda

[Fluffypants]

It took Jackie a LOOOONG time to get this too. I finally decided to get serious about teaching it, and I used basically the same method as Linda (above). It's a little harder for corgis . . . instead of waiting for them to lift their paw (which can be difficult for them), it was easier to lift the paw myself, as Linda did. Then they catch on!

[Jespah]

I was told by breeders that the dwarf breeds, such as our Corgis, don't shake paws naturally or are inclined to becasue of the angle of their shoulders. I grew up with St. Bernards and they were always swinging their paws and whacking you, so it was a natural behavior re-inforced by training. As it is so physically awkward for Corgis, I never even tried teaching either of my dogs.

Deb

[Jeni D]

Picturing the St. Bernard throwing his paw around made me laugh and reminded me of a lab we had when I was a kid. He, too, would throw his paw at you for almost anything--food, attention, play time--I really miss that dog.

Anyways, I'll give shake another try with Dudley. I tried the method of putting him in the sit position, but even then, when I lifted his paw, he would lay down. Who knows

[FoxysMommy]

Ha!

I am trying to teach Foxy to shake now and it's not going very well. Each time I reach for her paw to shake it, she backs away and looks at me like "Now why would you want to do that?"

I like the advice you're all giving. I'll try the treat in the mouth at the same time as the shake method and see if that works.

[disraeli]

I taught Rhys to shake his paw, just like corgimom did. Now, anytime I ask him to sit for a treat, he puts his paw up whether I ask for it or not! It's his "go-to" trick.

[Jespah]

Don't forget you are all fighting the famous Corgi inbred aversion to feet touching too!

[Corgis'R4me]

Originally Posted by Jespah

Don't forget you are all fighting the famous Corgi inbred aversion to feet touching too!

************************************************** ************
*~* BOTH Midnight & Sunshine really could care less about learning this trick.

They are BOTH used to me touching their paws..all 4 of them...but, they seem to hate it when I lift them up.

I simply say, "Let me see..." whenever I trim their claws or clean their ears. This works GREAT for me. They are very easy going puppies and are extremely sweet. They let me trim their claws every other weekend. They are used to it.

I do not think tht I will even attemp to try and teach them to "shake". I want to teach them other things.

** Michael, I took your advice and STOPPED giving them both a bath every single weekend. I was ignorant...I should have known that it would interfer with the natural oils in their skin ! >>>SHEESH<<< Silly Nikki..!! Now, I just bathe them the night before I use Frontline...which is once a month.


Ya live and learn...


*~* Nikki

[corgimom]

The key so he won't lay down, once you put him in the sit position ,is to keep
the treat up at his face so he will want to stay sitting, and then at the same
time you hold his paw and say "shake paw" while giving him the treat at "sitting height" at the same time. - remember repitition, yet don't overdo it so they don't get bored Do it maybe 3 or 4 times a day, with about 4 or 5 repititions at each practice session. Obviously, this isn't a necessary command that they have to learn, but it is fun to have our Corgis do some other things also. Before you know it, you will be able to extend your hand to him and ask him to shake and he will comply.

If he still lays down once you take his paw, I would release his paw, ask him to "sit" again( you may have to get him up sitting again by encouraging him with a treat up higher) and then start from the beginning, and remember, if he even attempts to give you his paw, praise him!!

Whenever I asked Cody if he wants to do some "tricks", his ears perk up as if to say "sure" because he knows treats are involved and he follows me to the family room to not only work on his puppy commands, but to do some other fun tricks he has learned.

NIKKI, I was wondering about your last statement regarding the Frontline -
you say that you put it on every month? my vet said it goes on every 3
months. Just curious.

Linda

[Jeni D]

I use the frontline every month as well. I find that it starts to wear off towards the end of week 3 and I will occassionally find a flea on him.

Linda, I'm going to try your method of teaching shake. It definitely can't hurt and it is fun to teach them some other tricks besides the obedience ones.

[Corgis'R4me]

*~* I use it every month. Like I stated...I also give them a bath the night BEFORE I put the Frontline on. It has helped !

*~* Nikki