shaking

[lozzzz]

My dog parker is (I think) is very intelligent,I have taught him several "tricks",from the simple sit, down and stand,to more complicated,play dead,roll over,sneakin(crawling along the floor)fetching the post,I'm half way through balancing a doggie choc button on his nose and bow,if it possible to teach him to shake on command or is this just a reaction to being wet,It would be great if he could learn this,and if so how?

[woofgang]

I have taught my weimaraner to do this when I bath her. It was pretty simple. We have her on a lead in the garden and bath her with buckets of water. When we finish, I waited until she shook herself and as she did  it, I said "shake shake shake" and then praised like mad. She will now do it when asked but only when she is being bathed but this may be because I never developed  it once I had taught her what I wanted . (Also weimaraners are notorious for needing a good reason to do what they are asked!!) Wish I could teach her NOT to shake herself when she comes in soaking wet and muddy from a walk and does it in the hall all up the paintwork!!! Oh well we painted the hall with washable paint its not too bad.

[shivvy]

I did exactly the same thing as woofgang suggests lozzzz.  When Parker decides to shake himself, be on hand to praise like crazy (with titbits too if he is grub motivated) while repeating the command that you want to use in the future.  I'm sure that if you have him doing all the other tricks it won't be long before he will shake on command.

As woogang also says - teaching them to NOT shake would be a good trick.  It would also save on a few mops, buckets and apologies!!

[ddowdeswell]

I have taught my whippet to shake on the doorstep before she comes in, and after she's had a bath, I don't allow her to shake until I have her wrapped up in a towel. Stopping her shaking was really easy. Just as she was about to shake, I shouted "no, don't shake" and now I only have to say don't shake and she doesn't. Maybe it's only because whippets are very intelligent animals and nothing to do with my training.