Who is this trick for?

The “Paw Wiping” trick is a fun trick with a nice side effect, even though you might still need to wipe very dirty paws afterward. In any case, it’s an excellent mental challenge for your furry friend and will surely bring a smile when executed. The goal is for the dog to wipe its front paws on a mat, so your dog should be comfortable with standing for an extended period or using its front paws. Otherwise, the trick is not physically demanding, making it suitable for most dogs.

How do I teach my dog Paw Wiping?

Start by preparing treats, a clicker, and a doormat or a small bath mat. Choose a quiet room for training where you won’t be disturbed. The clicker is a helpful training tool for this trick as it allows precise reinforcement of the right behavior. If you haven’t used a clicker before, it’s essential to condition it first so your dog understands that the clicking sound means something great is coming. Conditioning is simple: hold a few tasty treats in one hand, place it behind your back, click once, then move the treat hand forward and give your dog a treat. Repeat this process until the principle is clear.

Step 1

Once your dog understands that a click is followed by a treat, you can start with the trick. Have your dog wait, for example, in a sit, and place the doormat/bath mat in front of you on the floor. Make sure it doesn’t slip, so a towel on tiles might not be ideal—unless you place it on a stable carpet. Now hide a treat under the mat in front of your dog’s eyes. Release your dog by dissolving the sit, and he will try to reach the treat under the mat. Click when he uses a paw to access the treat. After the click, give him the treat. Repeat this process multiple times until your dog intentionally uses his paw after being released.

Step 2

Now, it’s about refining the behavior. Since your dog should use both paws one after the other, wait patiently and click only when both paws have been used. This might take a moment. Stay calm and relaxed.

If your dog gets frustrated because he doesn’t understand what you expect, switch to another trick he knows for a brief moment. This gives him a sense of achievement, restoring motivation.

Step 3

Now you just need to eliminate the treat under the mat. Pretend a few times that you’re hiding a piece of food under the mat. Release your dog as usual and click when he exhibits the right behavior. Instead of rewarding with a treat under the mat, reward him from your hand. Gradually reduce the pretending until it’s no longer necessary.

Finally, introduce a verbal cue like “Wipe” or “Clean.” Say this just before releasing your dog from the wait.

Instead of a verbal cue, you could also introduce a hand signal indicating the desired trick. If you make a specific gesture toward the mat, your dog will associate it with wiping his paws. For example, you could mimic the wiping motion with a curved index finger or choose any other signal not yet associated with another trick.