How do you train a dog to give a paw? My 4 month old retriever responds to a clicker.
My older dog just seemed to teach herself so i'm not sure how to get started. I tried to encourage her to paw my hand when i held a treat in an enclosed hand in order to click it but she wouldn't use her paw she just licked my hand instead.

I taught Dylan to do this in just a few days: I lifted his paw and gave the command 'paw'. Then gave the treat. He soon associated lifting his paw with getting a treat.
I did find that he is better at it if he is sat straight on his back paws (rather than the sideways 'puppy' sit).

Sarah

The treat in the fist method does take a little time, but most dogs will eventually paw at you.
Try holding your fist nearer the floor, it's easier for her to do it that way. Make sure you train in short sessions (no more than 3 minutes) which will prevent her from becoming frustrated or bored.

Jo

We used the clicker to teach Morse to give a paw.
1) Morse sit
2) Tap (gently) paw with finger and say Paw,please
3) Paw up click and treat, Good Dog! :)

It took an afternoon but watch you make the paw signal completely different from the DOWN ( if at that stage) as I confused Morse by making a sweeping hand movement at his paw at first. It is tricky to get the clicker and treat sorted in one hand at first. You could also carry the clicker about and when she lifts her own paw click and treat then introduce a signal later. Good luck :)

we have a nautical dog who learnt "port" and "starboard" paws in 30 mins. We had to lift each paw first, hold it, say the relevant paw then give treat. He is better at "starboard" but will now lift the correct paw when he sees a treat.
We did it because he was getting grouchy when we were examining his paws and now he doesn't fuss. :)

bradley learnt in about two days first he learnt to sit and lye down then we moved onto the grand finaly the paw. which probably has openned a door for him. he raises his paw to go out for a wee, a walk and anything else he wants. if he thinks its time for dinner he sits nicely raises his paw a cocks his head to one side, looking as appealing as possible. So he has used the paw command in his favour, showing me exactly what he wants.
regard emma

He's training you well, Emma!
:)

My daughter taught Junior with his own food. She took his paw and said shake a paw at the same time holding his paw. Now all she says is Junior shake a paw and he puts his paw in her hand. Tiva will give 5, 10, high 5, high 10 when asked. Our shepherd collier knew right and left she was taught the same way as Junior except we would say give us ur right, then left and would switch.

ttfn :)

I taught my dogs by holding a small piece of cheese in my closed hand, held at their face level, with the back of my hand facing upwards. They could smell the cheese but couldn't see it. After a couple of attempts to nudge with their noses they then tried to open the hand by pawing it. I immediately gave the treat. After a couple of goes I added the command 'Touch' and didn't give the treat until they touched. Once learned with the right hand (it took about 5 minutes) I did the same but with the cheese in the left hand. They caught onto this more quickly and I used the command 'Tap' for left hand work. Once they got used to me saying Touch and Tap I left off the treats reward and they respond by waving a paw to command only without having to actually touch the hand at all. I used touch and tap because I wanted to do work with 'Heelwork to Music' but you can add anything you want - 'Say Hello' 'Give a Paw' ' High Five' 'Wave goodbye' etc.

well my puppy i decided to train her very early she learnt many tricks all on one day at the age of 14 weeks mabe its just my dog being very clever but all i did was stand and show her what to do for the food then carried on showing her and repeating it .
you can make it a game. so what i did was sit pushed her bum down gave food did it again then told her to sit and gave her food when she did it.carry on and on till the dog gets it

Then i showed her how to give paw and gave food and did it again and asked her to give it me on her own.
if u carry on showing then making your dog do it by herself reward.
but i made a game of it by makin her sit , paw , high 5 , down and roll over they learn the moves in a flow after a while and then you can mix them up add nother ones like stay and go get .you have to rember to reward though.

Hi ,
my 12 week old pup now gives me her paw too....
just kept picking her paw up & saying the word ''paw'' gave her treat ...got it in a day..
clever little girl xxx

cool once youve masterd that ask her for a high five ,then down i think tricks teach your pup to listen to you from a early age. mines always keen to get that treat. she still does it all without a treat , plus its funny to see her do her routine . rember to mix there tricks up or they get cheeky and do them before you ask them too:D cheeky bleeders

Buddy grasped give a paw very quickly using treats. Don't want to brag (but i will) he will even change paws when i say "other paw".
Ah Bless.

I've found that Kaiser has actually associated the action of me offering my open hand to accept his paw, as opposed to the command "paw".

I could say "paw" all day and he'd just look at me, but as soon as I offer my hand, he obliges, even though I say "paw" simultaniously...

Hmmmmm, more work required I think!

most dogs will only offer there paw when they see a open hand infron of them, my dog will offer her paw to a shoe or a stick infront of her i dont think she would be willing to put her paw out for nothing though,
I know she knows what the words mean, beacuse even thou i have a hand action for roll over. she will still roll over if i just say roll over,and the same with the down action .
just stand infront of him and ask and dont give him a treat till he does it if he looks at u like "eh what you on about" then offer your hand then go straight back to asking again.