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      High Five

      "High Five" is a trick where your dog raises their paw and meets your hand.

      high five

      high five

      Introduction

      A high five is a fun and easy trick that can be taught to any dog. It is a great way to show off your dog's skills and to get them excited about training.

      Common Misconceptions

      Some people think that only certain breeds of dogs can learn to do high fives. However, any dog can learn this trick, as long as they are physically able to lift their paw.

      High Five - Video Walkthrough

      Steps to Address

      Teaching Phase:

      • Phase 1: Lure training
        • Have your dog sit in front of you and present your hand as if you were to give someone a high five. Make sure your hand is at a height where your dog needs to extend it's arm up to your hand.
        • Hold a treat in your hand and slowly move it towards your dog's paw.
        • Once your dog touches your hand with their paw, mark the behavior with a clicker or a verbal marker, such as "yes" or "good".
        • Immediately give your dog the treat.
        • Repeat steps 1-3 several times until your dog is consistently touching their paw to your hand when you move the treat towards it.

      Reinforcing Phase:

      • Phase 2: Removing the lure
        • Once your dog is consistently touching their paw to your hand when you move the treat towards it, you can start to remove the treat.
        • To do this, simply hold your hand out in front of your dog, palm up, without the treat.
        • If your dog touches their paw to your hand, mark and reward the behavior.
        • Repeat steps 1-3 several times until your dog is consistently touching their paw to your hand without the need for a treat.

      Proofing Phase:

      • Phase 3: Increasing the difficulty
        • Once your dog is consistently touching their paw to your hand without the need for a treat, you can start to increase the difficulty.
        • You can do this by practicing in a different location, such as a different room or outside.
        • You can also start to add distractions, such as other people or animals.
        • Repeat steps 1-3 several times until your dog is able to touch their paw to your hand in different locations and with distractions present.

      Maintenance Phase:

      • Phase 4: Maintaining the behavior
        • Once your dog has learned to high five on command, it is important to maintain the behavior.
        • You can do this by practicing regularly and by rewarding your dog for high fiving when you say the cue word "high five".
        • If your dog starts to forget the behavior, you can go back to the earlier phases and start practicing again.

      Case Studies

      There are many success stories of dogs who have learned to do high fives. One such story is that of a dog named Buddy. Buddy was a rescue dog who was not very food motivated. However, with patience and training, he learned to do high fives and even won a prize at a dog show.

      Pet Parent Coaching Tips

      Here are a few tips for pet parents who are teaching their dogs to do high fives:

      • Be patient and positive. It takes time and patience to teach a dog to do a high five. Don't get discouraged if your dog doesn't get it right away. Just keep practicing and they will eventually learn.
      • Make sure your dog is having fun. If your dog is not enjoying themselves, they are less likely to want to learn.
      • Use positive reinforcement. Reward your dog for their efforts, even if they don't get it perfect right away.
      • Start with short training sessions. Don't try to teach your dog too much at once.
      • Be consistent with your training. Practice regularly and your dog will eventually learn to do a high five.

      Conclusion

      The high five is a fun and easy trick that can be taught to any dog. With a little bit of patience and training, your dog will be high fiving you in no time!

      Frequently Asked Questions

      • Q: What if my dog doesn't touch my hand?
        A: If your dog doesn't touch your hand, you can try to lure them with a treat. Hold the treat in your hand and slowly move it towards their paw. Once they touch your hand with their paw, mark the behavior and give them the treat.
      • Q: What if my dog only high fives with one paw?
        A: That's okay! Just keep practicing and eventually your dog will learn to high five with both paws.
      • Q: What if my dog gets too excited and starts jumping up on me?
        A: If your dog gets too excited and starts jumping up on you, calmly tell them "no" and redirect their attention to the treat in your hand.