Hold the treat around four or five inches away from your dog’s nose. Reward the dog once it paws at your hand. This reinforces the behavior that you are trying to train. [1] X Expert Source Alexis TorielloCertified Dog Behavior Consultant Expert Interview. 23 February 2021 Don’t grab your dogs paw and try to force the high-five.
Wait patiently for your dog to paw your open palm. Once the dog high-fives your hand, say “high-five” and reward your dog.
Start slowly, removing treats as rewards only occasionally. Gradually decrease the amount of treats you reward your dog with until it is able to high-five without them. Replace treats with affection and verbal praise.
Never train your dog for more than fifteen minutes at a time. This can cause your dog to become frustrated and hinder training efforts.
Store bought treats are considered safe to give to your dog. However, you must still avoid over-feeding your dog. Apples (without seeds), strawberries, bananas, cooked sweet potatoes, carrots, lettuce and spinach are some examples of healthy and safe treats for your dog.
At the same time, give your dog a treat and offer a positive response such as “Good boy”. Reward your dog just after they perform an action that you want to encourage.
Get your dogs attention. Present your dogs favorite treat, holding it in your closed hand, a few inches from its nose. Bring the treat above your dogs head and slowly move it behind. Your dog will try to follow the treat with its nose and will have to sit down to do so. Say “Sit” as your dog does so. Reward the dog with the treat after it sits.
Keep a treat nearby, either in your opposite hand or in a pocket. Even though the treat is hidden during this phase, you will still reward your dog with it after it sits.
Try holding your hand out, in front of your dog, but do not bring it over their head. If your dog still doesn’t sit, use your hand to guide it into position, using less range of motion each time. Keep training your dog in this way, using the hand signal less and less, until they sit with only the verbal command. Reward your dog with treats when they sit by verbal command only.
