Kroki

Question · Puppy

How do I teach my puppy to high five?

The short answer

Ask your puppy to sit, then hold a treat in a loose fist just above one front paw. When the paw lifts towards it, mark and reward. Next, turn your hand into a flat palm facing your puppy at shoulder height and reward any tap on it. Add “High five” once the tap comes easily. Keep the palm low enough that your puppy stays sitting. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs, teaches the Sit and the marker word this trick starts from.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Start from a relaxed sit

    A high five begins from sitting, so wait until your puppy can sit for a moment without bouncing straight up. Kneel or sit on the floor so you are close to its height. Have five or six tiny soft treats ready in your other hand or a pocket.

  2. Hover a fist just above the paw

    Hold a treat in a loose fist a few centimetres above one front paw and slightly in front of it. A curious puppy usually sniffs first, then scrapes at the fist. The moment a paw leaves the floor, say “Top!” and give the treat from that hand.

  3. Turn the fist into a palm

    After a few lifts, show a flat open hand with the fingers pointing up and the palm facing your puppy. Keep it no higher than its shoulder. Most puppies tap it by accident while reaching for the old fist. Mark that tap and reward from your other hand.

  4. Name it and keep it short

    When the tap comes within a second or two, say “High five” and then raise your palm. Three to five good taps are a full session for a young puppy. Stop before it starts mouthing your fingers or wandering off.

  5. Keep all four feet near the floor

    Resist the urge to lift your hand higher to make the trick look bigger. If your puppy has to rear up on its hind legs to reach, lower your palm again. A bigger stretch can wait until it is fully grown.

Teaching a grown dog instead?

An adult dog with finished growth can reach a higher palm and hold its balance better, so you can raise your hand, practise both paws and even add a two-paw version. Dogs that already know “Paw” learn the high five fastest. The page for grown dogs explains how to build on what your dog knows.

Growing bones, favourite paws and how often to train

A puppy’s long bones grow from soft areas near their ends, called growth plates. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, these close at about six months or later in small dogs and nearer one and a half years in giant breeds. Until then, it makes sense to keep tricks low and avoid moves that load the back legs, such as standing up tall for a raised hand.

Your puppy may well have a favourite paw. Many dogs prefer one paw over the other (Wells 2003). If your puppy always taps with the same foot, that is normal. Reward it and teach the other side later as a separate trick.

Less can be more. Dogs trained once a week needed fewer sessions to learn a task than dogs trained five times a week (Meyer and Ladewig 2008). For a puppy, that does not mean training only once a week, but it does mean a few short, relaxed rounds beat long drills. A review also found that harsh, aversive methods can harm a dog’s physical and mental health, with no evidence that they work better (Ziv 2017), so keep the high five a game.

When the high five won’t come

  • Your puppy stands up instead of staying seated: your palm is too high or too far away. Bring it closer and lower.
  • It licks or bites your palm: keep treats out of the signal hand and only pay from the other one.
  • It pushes with its nose: wait a few seconds longer. A nose bump does not open the fist, so the paw usually follows.
  • It lies down: your hand is too low. Lift it a little until the paw has a target in the air.

A gentle first week

  • Days 1–2: paw lifts towards a low fist, two or three tiny sessions a day.
  • Days 3–4: taps on a flat palm at shoulder height, reward from the other hand.
  • Days 5–6: say “High five” first, then show your palm; practise in another room.
  • Day 7: a short session with someone else in the family offering the palm.

When to see a professional

A low high five is easy on a puppy’s body. Ask for help first if:

The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.

Frequently asked questions

At what age can I teach my puppy to high five?

You can start a low high five from around nine or ten weeks, once your puppy can sit for a moment. Keep the palm at shoulder height or lower and sessions under two minutes.

Is a high five bad for a puppy’s joints?

A low high five from a sit is gentle, because the puppy lifts only one front paw. Avoid raising your hand so high that it has to stand on its back legs while it is still growing.

Should my puppy learn give paw before high five?

It helps but isn’t needed. A puppy that already knows give paw learns the high five quickly when you turn your palm to face it, but you can also teach the high five first.

Why does my puppy bite my hand when I hold it up?

Puppies explore hands with their mouths, especially while teething. Keep the signal hand empty, pay from the other hand, and offer a chew toy between rounds if the nipping continues.

Which paw should my puppy use for a high five?

Whichever paw it offers first is fine. Many dogs favour one paw, so reward that one now and give the other paw its own cue once the first is reliable.

How many high fives a day is enough for a puppy?

Two or three sessions of three to five taps each are plenty. Short practice with breaks in between keeps your puppy keen and avoids tiring its legs.

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