Teaching your dog to wave

This is a great party trick and children especially will love seeing their dog perform this command. The appearance of a large dog can sometimes frighten people, but if you teach a large dog to wave, strangers will see your dog for the friendly, funny thing that she is and will be encouraged to come up and meet her.

1) Sit on the floor in front of your dog and command her to sit. Gently touch one of her paws.

2) The minute she lifts her paw up, pick it up and put it in your hand. Hold it level with her chest for a brief second or two.

3) Say "Wave" and release her paw. Your dog will associate the motion of her paw falling to the ground with the command word "Wave." Quickly praise her with food tidbit and repeat the exercise.