Havanese Training To Teach “Shake Hands”
As a lot of Havanese dog owners know, this dog breed happens to be among the smartest known, and do not think twice to show they are! For example, countless owners may remember how simple it was to get the dog to understand the “shake hands” command. While some would initiate a series of actions to culminate in the “shake hands”, others actually only pick up the dog’s paw and say to it “Shake” over and over. Then the day comes that asking the dog if it knows how to shake leads to the dog actually doing it! Thus it is obviously important that the dog be given time, sometimes several weeks, just to let all the information “sink in.”
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.
Still another way to do it is to put one’s hand down, palm up, then with the same hand to nudge the knee of the dog so that they lift their paw. When the dog lifts its paw, the owner needs to slide his/her hand under the paw and praise effusively.
One clicker training method is interesting enough to check out since a clear tupperware cover plays a major role! The first step is to place the treat on the floor, and let the dog see you cover it with clear tupperware. The dog’s expected reaction is to swat the cover and to try to move it with its paw. Click and give treat when they touch the tupperware. Repeat the first step up to covering the treat with a tupperware, but this time place your hand on the cover. When the dog’s paw touches your hand, click and give treat. Then your hand becomes the cue, and this time there is no treat or tupperware. Last of all, add the word “paw (or shake hands)” as they touch your hand. End the havanese training by clicking and giving treat.
