How to Teach a Dog to High Five and Wave

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

A high five is a crowd-pleaser, and it is one of the easiest ways to turn a simple paw lift into something with style. If your dog already knows shake, you are most of the way there.

Before you start

Teach shake first. See how to teach a dog to shake hands. Your dog should offer a paw readily and place it calmly in your hand. Have small treats and a calm space, and sit or kneel so your hand is at your dog's chest height.

Step 1: Change the hand position

Instead of holding your hand flat and low, turn your palm to face your dog, fingers pointing up, like a stop sign. Hold it close to your dog's raised paw. Ask for "shake", then mark and reward when the paw touches your palm.

Step 2: Raise the hand

Move your palm a few centimeters higher each repetition. Your dog must lift the paw further to reach it. Reward every success, and drop back a step if your dog fails twice.

Step 3: Add the cue

Say "high five" just before you present your palm. Keep your hand position consistent, so the picture of the palm becomes part of the cue.

Step 4: Keep the taps gentle

Reward only soft contact. If your dog scratches, pull your hand away without comment, and present it again. Praise gently placed paws, so your dog learns that gentle earns more.

Step 5: Switch paws

Teach the second paw by presenting your hand on the other side. Use the same cue, or use "other side" for the second paw. Practice each paw separately.

Step 6: Teach a wave

Once your dog does a reliable high five, present your palm slightly farther away, so the paw lifts but does not quite touch. Mark and reward the lift. Gradually increase the distance until your dog waves in the air.

Common mistakes

• Holding your hand too low. Dogs then paw downward and scratch. Keep your palm upright.
• Moving your hand toward the dog. Let your dog come to your hand.
• Rewarding hard slaps. Your dog may strike harder over time.
• Practicing too long. A few minutes is plenty. Stop before paws get tired.

Troubleshooting

• Your dog pulls the paw back. Return to shake, and reward calm paw handling.
• Your dog misses. Hold your palm steady, and reward near misses to keep motivation.
• Your dog uses the wrong paw. Reward whichever paw is lifted, and add a cue for each side later.
• Your dog bites at your hand. Offer a toy to hold with the other paw, and review basic manners. See how to teach a dog to leave it.

Use it in daily life

High five is a polite greeting that replaces jumping, if you reward it consistently with guests. It is also a lovely way to end a training session. Keep the treat reward for the first few weeks, then move to praise and occasional treats.

A sample plan

• Day 1: Present the upright palm during shake.
• Day 2: Raise the hand slightly.
• Day 3: Add the cue and work on soft taps.
• Week 2: Teach the second paw and begin the wave.

Making high five reliable

Practice in short bursts of five or six repetitions, a few times a day, rather than one long session. Vary where you stand and what you wear, so your dog learns the cue and not the setting. Once the trick is solid, switch from a treat every time to a treat every second or third repetition, with praise in between. See variable reinforcement schedules for dogs.

Small dogs may be more comfortable if you kneel or sit on the floor. Big dogs may swing a heavy paw, so keep your hand firm and your face out of the way. If your dog is a puppy, keep the paw lifts low and short, since bones and joints are still developing.

The takeaway

Build on shake, raise the palm gradually and reward gentle taps. A high five is a joyful trick that also keeps paw handling friendly.