Teaching a dog to give high-five can be fun! It is one of the easiest tricks to teach your dog. This can strengthen your relationship with the dog. Grab high-value treats to encourage your dog to internalize the command quicker.
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How Long Will It Take to Teach a Dog to high-five?
Learning span will vary depending upon how fast the dog is acquiring the concept. Most dogs will readily master the skill, whereas a few might take time. Your consistency and generosity will help your dog to grasp the idea quickly.
Tools Needed to Teach a Dog to high-five
Tools you need to teach your dog to high five are:
Here, we have outlined a few brief steps to teach your dog to high-five:
Step 1: Get Ready for Training
Locate a Distraction-free Place to Train
You’ll have to select a place free from distraction and then train your dog. This will help your dog to focus and learn to high-five fast.
Give High-Value Treats
Reward your dog with high-value treats until they master the command. Treats must be nutritious so that it doesn’t hamper your dog’s overall health.
Consider rewarding your dog with Strawberries, bananas, and apples excluding their seeds; carrots, and cooked sweet potatoes are also in the list.
Be Careful While Training
Reward your dog when your dog performs the desired action. Do not reward your dog after or before the task is done. This would mistakenly encourage bad behavior.
Your dog must first learn to sit before you can teach them to high-five. You can skip this step if your dog already knows how to sit and go straight to teaching them how to high-five.
Begin Hiding Treats
You should start hiding the treat from your dog after he learns to sit on command. Guide your dog into a sitting position throughout this phase of training without a treat in your hand.
Reward after your dog performs the task, but keep it hidden until the task is done.
Remove Hand Signals
You will have to eliminate the hand signals after your dog has learned to sit with your hand guiding it into place. Add a verbal cue ‘sit’ instead of hand gestures.
After he sits, sit on the opposite side, facing him.
Make a closed fist with one of your dog’s favorite goodies. Remember, your fist should be in a vertical position.
Allow your dog to become aware of the reward you are carrying by presenting the hand with the treat to it.
Wait patiently until your dog paws at your hand.
Introduce the High-Five Command
Introduce the High-five command when he attempts to paw at your hand for the treat.
Instead of offering a closed fist with the goodie inside, give a high-five with your hand.
Reward, when he touches your palm.
Repeat this with high-value treats.
Introduce Verbal Command “High-Five”
Keep the procedure the same.
When he touches your palm, say ‘High-Five” in a happy tone, loud and clear.
Then treat him lavishly.
Repeat this procedure.
Your verbal command and touching your palm will help your dog understand that he will get a treat if he touches your palm while sitting.
Repeat the entire procedure with the other hand.
Remove Treats
By now, your dog has acquired the command. Hence, it is time to eliminate the treats gradually.
Instead of treats, reward him with lots of love and generosity.
Train High-Five with Open Hand
After eliminating the rewards, repeat the entire process with an open palm.
Reward only when the desired task is done and acquired by your dog.
Pro tips:
Be patient while training.
Never force your dog for training.
Consider training with other people with the help of a leash if you want him to high-five others.
Never train for more than 15 minutes.
Exercise your dog before training to gather concentration.
Final Thoughts
Training your dog to high-five can be fun. After your dog has mastered the command, use it every time when he completes his desired tasks. Then, reward him with a high-five as positive reinforcement. You and your dog will have a gala time after mastering this fun trick!
