Shelties hate paw-shake?

B

bwibwigouza

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I've been teaching Mozart a variety of tricks and the basic commands. He grasp the idea of most commands in a day or 2 but he refuses to do the paw-shake. Is most shelties like this? No paw touching? He allows most people in the house to touch his paws now but he refuses to offer his paws for paw-shake. :confused2: On rare occasion, he'd lift his paw slightly but his mouth will soon follow to get a bite. If shelties are a no shake breed I guess I'll just give up on this command. :rolleyes2:
 
All my shelties shake. Diva nad Ember even give high fives.

Some dogs just take long then others. In vet school I taught my roommate chessie mix to shake. She only had 1 brain cell and it didn't fire all the time. It took 3 months to teach her with me trying daily. She just didn't get it. One day, she slowly lifted her paw and I went yes and she got so happy and stuck her paw up so high it went about her head. She offered shake even time from that point forward but 3 months to teach. I have been told I am very stubborn.:smile2:
 
Well I'll keep at it even if it does take 3 months! But shelties are suppose to be one of the smartest dogs out there. Maybe he will fly at herding skills?!? :winkgrin: That'd be a real plus cuz I do have a flock of duck and a flock of chicken waiting for him to grow up and herd!
 
It took me 4 years to teach Tully to shake! And she's one of the smartest dogs you will ever meet. I just think she was too smart and didn't see the point to it. Even now the shake is pretty mediocre. But give her a problem that involves getting to a ball or chasing something (or getting to the benchtop) and she will outsmart a BC any day.

Deska on the other hand learnt it first go - it involved food rewards after all.:rolleyes2:
 
Beau loves to shake. I was trying to get him to do down on one of our first days together, and he was like NO PAW. PAW. "Really, Beau? Would you like to shake?" PAAAAWWWW with a great big grin on his face. I think it's his favorite trick. If you kneel down in front of him, he just wants to shake over and over. YAY I GET TO PET THE PEOPLE.

I think it probably just depends on the dog, especially puppies with very sensitive feet. They have to learn the command and learn to trust that you're not going to hurt or tickle them. (We've had B for 3 months and still don't have a reliable down and he won't chase a tennis ball to save his life, so it's not like I'm a genius trainer :o )
 
Shake

bwibwigouza said:
I've been teaching Mozart a variety of tricks and the basic commands. He grasp the idea of most commands in a day or 2 but he refuses to do the paw-shake. Is most shelties like this? No paw touching? He allows most people in the house to touch his paws now but he refuses to offer his paws for paw-shake. :confused2: On rare occasion, he'd lift his paw slightly but his mouth will soon follow to get a bite. If shelties are a no shake breed I guess I'll just give up on this command. :rolleyes2:
Click to expand...

Being am agility person and always using the word touch my command for paw shake is Touch and have had no problems with it at all.I have used the word "Touch" to teach my guys how to cross their paws.Most of the tricks they know the word Touch is used.But what works for me may not work for you!!
 
I had the same problem with my Fergus. He has been to basic obedience class and picked up everything very quickly. He does number of tricks. He will spin in one direction and reverse on command, he crawls, sits like a champ, weaves between my legs, and plays dead. The paw shake however was the hardest thing for him to learn. I have no idea why. I consider it an easy trick. He has no issue with me touching his feet and we play a game "I'm gonna get your feet" where I grab for his paws and he loves it.

It took days of persistent training and he finally got it and will now offer either paw for a shake. Just keep at it. He will get it eventually.
 
bwibwigouza said:
I've been teaching Mozart a variety of tricks and the basic commands. He grasp the idea of most commands in a day or 2 but he refuses to do the paw-shake. Is most shelties like this? No paw touching? He allows most people in the house to touch his paws now but he refuses to offer his paws for paw-shake. :confused2: On rare occasion, he'd lift his paw slightly but his mouth will soon follow to get a bite. If shelties are a no shake breed I guess I'll just give up on this command. :rolleyes2:
Click to expand...

oh, yes they do just fine, specially if treat is gooood. Once you establish that he does lift the paw, pay only for the highest lift. And go all out on your treats, will you? Like steak?:lol:
You might want to try clicker with this. It is precise enough behavior to do it easily.
 
sometimes they just have trouble learning certain behaviors... my current dog took a long time to learn "down" then he conviently forgot how to "Down" and i had to retrain. he's still a little ify with it, but getting better.

i had a sheltie when i a kid, it look years to teach her to sit up on her hind legs and "beg". she eventaully did get it and was very good at it, but it took a looong time.

dog training is fun :lol:
 
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