How to Teach a Puppy to Give High Fives and Other Tricks

Teaching a puppy to give high fives is a cheerful way to build communication, confidence and trust. The trick looks impressive, yet it relies on simple behaviours your puppy may already offer naturally, such as sitting, lifting a paw or following a treat. With short, positive sessions, even a young puppy can learn the basic movement without pressure.

Trick training also supports everyday manners. A puppy who learns to focus on a person, wait for a reward and respond to a cue is developing skills that can help with grooming, vet visits and household routines. Whether you live in a Melbourne apartment, a Brisbane townhouse or a home with a garden in Perth, the same reward-based principles apply.

Start with the right training conditions

Choose a quiet, comfortable area with a non-slip surface. Floorboards or tiles can make a puppy feel unsteady, especially when they are shifting their weight to lift a paw. A mat, carpet or folded towel gives better footing and can eventually become a useful training station.

Keep sessions brief. Two to five minutes is enough for a very young puppy, while an older puppy may manage several short sessions throughout the day. Training after a nap or toilet break often works well because your puppy is alert without being overtired. Avoid practising immediately after a large meal, during the hottest part of an Australian summer day or when your dog is distracted by visitors.

Use tiny, soft treats that are easy to chew. You can break ordinary puppy treats into smaller pieces or use part of your puppy’s daily food allowance. Australian pet shops and supermarkets carry many training treats, but the best option is one your puppy values and tolerates well. If your puppy has allergies or a sensitive stomach, choose a simple ingredient that fits their existing diet and check with your vet before introducing new foods.

Teach a reliable sit first

A high five is easier when your puppy can sit calmly for a moment. Hold a treat close to their nose, then move it slowly upwards and slightly backwards. As your puppy follows the smell, their bottom will often lower naturally. The instant it touches the floor, say “yes” or use a clicker, then deliver the treat.

Repeat this movement several times before adding the word “sit”. Say the cue once, wait a moment, and guide your puppy into position if needed. Avoid repeating the cue rapidly, as this can teach your puppy that the word has no meaning until it is said several times.

Once your puppy understands the action, begin rewarding calmer sits. You do not need perfect stillness at first, but try to reward four paws on the floor and attention directed towards you. A puppy who jumps, mouths or spins for every treat may need a little more practice with quiet behaviour before learning paw-based tricks.

Shape the first paw lift

With your puppy sitting, hide a treat in your closed hand and place that hand near the floor in front of them. Many puppies will sniff, lick or paw at your hand. Stay still and wait. The moment the paw lifts, mark the behaviour with “yes” or a click, open your hand and give the reward.

At this stage, do not worry about whether the paw touches your hand. You are teaching the idea that lifting a paw makes a reward appear. If your puppy becomes frustrated, move your hand slightly away, reward a calm pause and try again with an easier movement.

Some puppies offer a paw quickly, while others need more time. You can gently tap the floor or move your hand a little to encourage investigation, but do not grab and lift the puppy’s leg. Forced movement can make handling unpleasant and may cause a puppy to avoid the exercise.

When your puppy is consistently lifting the paw, begin rewarding only a clearer lift. Then gradually wait for the paw to move higher. Small improvements are enough. Several successful repetitions are more useful than one long session that ends in confusion.

Turn the movement into a high five

Once the paw lift is reliable, change the position of your hand. Present your open palm vertically, close to your puppy’s chest but not so close that it feels intrusive. At first, reward any attempt to move the paw towards your palm. As your puppy improves, wait for the paw to make gentle contact.

Add the cue “high five” just before presenting your hand. Say it once in a friendly, consistent voice. When the paw touches your palm, mark the moment and reward immediately. The timing matters: your puppy should understand that contact with the hand, rather than simply sitting or looking at you, earns the treat.

Raise your palm gradually over several sessions. A puppy may be able to touch a low hand but lose confidence when it is held at shoulder height. Keep the movement comfortable and stop before your puppy starts leaping, scratching or grabbing at your fingers.

Practise with both hands if your puppy is comfortable. You can teach the same cue for either paw, or later use separate cues such as “left paw” and “right paw”. These variations are optional. A polished high five is less important than keeping the behaviour relaxed and enjoyable.

Add other tricks through small steps

The same shaping method can teach a range of puppy tricks. For “touch”, offer your open palm a few centimetres from your puppy’s nose. When their nose makes contact, mark and reward. This becomes a useful way to guide attention without pulling on a collar or harness.

For “spin”, hold a treat near your puppy’s nose and guide a slow circle. Reward when they complete the turn, then add the word “spin”. Practise in both directions once one direction is comfortable. Use a non-slip surface, and avoid excessive repetition because repeated turning can make some puppies dizzy.

“Find it” encourages sniffing and can help a puppy settle. Say the cue, toss a treat a short distance across the floor and let your puppy locate it. Gradually place treats behind a chair leg or near a safe object. This activity can be especially useful on wet days in Hobart or during hot weather in Darwin when outdoor exercise needs to be limited.

For “drop”, begin with a toy your puppy likes but does not guard. Offer a treat near their nose. When they release the toy to take the food, mark and reward, then return the toy. Giving the toy back teaches that releasing an object does not always mean losing it forever.

Keep training safe and puppy-friendly

Reward-based training should feel like cooperation, not a contest. Avoid shouting, leash corrections, prising open the mouth or physically positioning the paws. These methods can damage trust and may create resistance around hands, toys or grooming.

Watch your puppy’s body language. Lip licking, turning away, yawning, sudden scratching or losing interest can indicate that the session is too difficult, too long or poorly timed. Finish with an easy behaviour your puppy knows, such as sitting or touching your hand, and offer a break.

Puppies need plenty of sleep, often far more than new owners expect. A young dog who is overtired may bite, bark or race around instead of learning. Trick training should complement naps, toilet breaks, free play and gentle socialisation, rather than filling every quiet moment with commands.

Be cautious with tricks that involve jumping, repeated stair use or balancing on unstable objects. Growing joints and bones need sensible management. Small dogs, large breeds and puppies with physical concerns may require individual advice from a veterinarian or qualified force-free trainer.

Fit tricks into everyday Australian life

Training can happen in ordinary moments. Ask for a sit before opening the back door, a touch before attaching the lead or a high five after a calm grooming session. In a busy Sydney household, these tiny repetitions may be easier to maintain than one formal lesson each day.

Australia’s weather makes flexibility important. On very hot days, practise indoors with air conditioning or a fan running safely out of reach. Never train a puppy on scorching paving or leave them in a parked car. In tropical Queensland, humidity can make puppies tire quickly, while colder southern mornings may call for an indoor session before a walk.

Use local outings as opportunities for calm behaviour rather than constant tricks. A puppy visiting a café precinct in Adelaide, a suburban footpath in Canberra or a dog-friendly reserve near Perth can practise looking at you, responding to their name and settling beside you. Check council rules, use a lead where required and avoid asking for tricks when your puppy is overwhelmed.

Australian puppies also need protection from hazards such as snakes, paralysis ticks in affected areas and hot surfaces. Trick training cannot replace appropriate vaccinations, parasite prevention or veterinary care. Ask a local vet about risks in your region, particularly if you travel between states or spend time in bushland.

Build a routine that lasts

Progress is easier to maintain when everyone uses the same cue words and rewards the same behaviour. Decide whether your family will say “high five” or another phrase, and avoid changing it from day to day. Keep treats in a sealed container and use praise, play or access to a favourite toy as additional rewards.

Practise in different locations once the trick is reliable at home. Start in another room, then try a quiet section of the garden or an empty outdoor area. Increase distractions gradually. A puppy who performs perfectly in the kitchen may need easier steps when children are playing, a delivery arrives or another dog walks past.

Do not expect the trick every time. Puppies are affected by sleep, teething, hunger, heat and their surroundings. If a behaviour disappears temporarily, return to an easier version and reward generously. Learning is rarely a straight line, especially during adolescence.

Record small milestones if it helps you notice progress. Your puppy may first lift a paw, then touch a low palm, then offer a high five from a standing position. Those stages are valuable signs that your communication is improving, even before the finished trick looks polished.

With patient daily practice, a high five can become more than a party trick. It can teach your puppy to concentrate, respond to a cue and enjoy working with you. The same approach supports touch, spin, find it, drop and many other behaviours while protecting your puppy’s confidence and physical comfort.

For more practical help with puppy routines, home preparation, growth and everyday care, explore HypoBuddy’s breed guides and puppy resources. You can also subscribe to Lisa’s free Puppy Crash Course by email for approachable lessons that help turn training goals into manageable parts of life with a new dog.