How to teach your dog to high-five

Learn how to teach your dog to high-five. Make your pooch the hippest dog on the block by teaching him how to greet you with a high-five.

You Will Need

* A quiet area
* A dog
* Dog treats

Step 1. Pick quiet area

Choose a quiet area where you and your dog can work without distractions.

Step 2. Let dog smell treat

Place one of the treats in your palm, make a fist, and put your hand under your dog’s nose. Hold it four or five inches away from their face. Your dog may smell the treat and paw at your hand.

Don’t stand too far away from your dog. They may lose their balance when they touch your hand.

Step 3. Reward dog

Reward your dog with a treat each time your dog paws at your hand. Repeat until your dog consistently touches your hand.

Move your hand slightly to the side. Your dog will have lean to follow the treat, which will encourage them to touch your hand.

Step 4. Open hand for high-five

Open your fist and hold your flat palm in the air vertically. Acknowledge each successful touch with a treat.

Step 5. Mark behavior with a verbal cue

Add a verbal cue, like saying “High-Five!” each time your dog touches your palm. Now you can celebrate with your dog, and he won’t leave you hanging.

FACT: Toto and her trainer, Carl Spitz, were paid $125 per week for their work on The Wizard of Oz.