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 Shake
Shake is the most common trick, but it is fun too.
- Command your dog to Sit and treat them.
- Reach down and gently take the right paw and lift the paw to the level of your dog’s chest and gently shake the paw.
- Say the command Shake as you lift the paw.
- Release the paw, treat and praise.
- Repeat several times.
Later you can command a Shake by snapping your fingers or depending on which hand you offer, you can have the dog raise the corresponding paw.
Hint: If your puppy will grow to be large dog, discourage your pup from raising its paw unless asked. As they grow, a large dog might surprise and scare a small child with a large raised paw. I was forced to add a command “paw down” when around small children, so they did not clobber them accidentally.
 Catch
Catch is a fun game. Some breeds are better at Catch than others, but all dogs can learn. It just takes more patience with a Malamute than a Terrier.
Popcorn or a small hard treat is the best treat for teaching Catch.
Never allow your dog to get the treat if they miss or it takes more time to train this game and the games becomes, who can find the treat on the floor first. Sitting on the floor is easier so you can gather up the missed treats or you can solicit the help of a child to gather up the missed treats.
- Show your dog the popcorn. Command your dog to Sit and treat them.
- Toss the popcorn in the air, with the goal of landing on the nose of your dog and command Catch.
- Collect the missed treat after it bounces off their nose.
- Repeat several times.
Hint: Make it easy to catch. Training will go faster. Once your dog gets good you can start fast pitches.
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