How to Teach Hand / Paw Command 🐾 Training starts by engaging the nose, eyes, and then ears. First, engage the nose with treats. Let her sniff, stay calm, and sit. When the paw lifts naturally, reward it and that’s learning through association, not force. Repeat each step multiple times before moving to the next. No grabbing. No rushing. No command in the beginning. Once the behavior is clear, then add the word “Hand.” That’s how communication happens —and the dog understands, not obeys blindly