Training sheet: Teaching “Give paw”

🎒Preparation▼

🍖

Treats

Small and tasty

🤫

A quiet spot

No distractions

💡

Starting position: Your dog must be in a “Sit”, facing you.

🎯The lure phase (step by step)▼

The prompt

Show your dog a treat, then close your hand around it to make a fist.

The reaction

Present your closed fist at chest height. At first, your dog will try to lick or nibble it.

The contact

As soon as your dog uses a paw to scratch your hand to get at the treat, say “Paw!” straight away.

The reward

Open your hand immediately and let your dog eat the treat. Repeat several times.

✅

Key to success: The word “Paw!” must come exactly when the paw touches your hand, not before and not after.

🗣️Introducing the verbal cue▼

Once your dog lifts a paw as soon as you present your hand:

Open hand

Present your open hand (palm facing up) and say “Paw!” (or “Shake”, “Give paw”).

Receiving and praising

Welcome the paw into your palm and praise warmly with the reward.

🎓Fading the lure▼

Empty hand

Hold out your empty hand while giving the verbal cue.

Delayed reward

As soon as your dog puts a paw down, reward with a treat from your other hand.

Varying it

Mix things up by asking for the other paw (using a different word such as “Other”).

💡Final tips▼

Hand height: Do not hold your hand too high. If it is above shoulder level, your dog may lose their balance or stand up.
Do not force it: Avoid grabbing your dog's paw to lift it. The movement must be your dog's own idea for the learning to last.
Telling the paws apart: If you want your dog to tell right from left, always use your right hand for their left paw (mirror effect) and vice versa.
Sensitivity: Some dogs are sensitive about their paws. If yours pulls the paw away sharply, go very gradually and first reward simple light touches.