Boston Terrier Okay, confession: the first time I tried to teach a dog to wave, I felt completely ridiculous. Standing in my kitchen, flapping my own hand in the air like I was hailing a cab, repeating "wave, wave, wave" to a very confused Boston Terrier who just stared at me like I’d lost my mind. Spoiler: it took about four days, and now that dog waves at absolutely everyone who walks through the door.
The wave trick is one of those skills that looks impressive but is actually very teachable, even for first-timers.
Why the Wave Trick Is Perfect for Boston Terriers
Boston Terriers are sharp. Like, genuinely sharp. They read people well, they pick up on patterns fast, and they love having a job to do, even if that job is just charming guests at a dinner party.
The wave is a natural fit because it builds directly on the "shake" or "paw" command. If your Boston already knows how to offer a paw, you’re already halfway there.
"The best tricks aren’t just cute; they build communication between you and your dog. Every time your pup learns something new, that bond gets a little stronger."
Even if your dog is starting from scratch, don’t stress. Boston Terriers are motivated learners, especially when snacks are involved.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Keep it simple. You don’t need fancy equipment or a professional trainer.
Here’s your short list:
Treats: Small, soft, and smelly. Think little bits of chicken, cheese, or commercial training treats. The stinkier, the better.
A quiet space: Somewhere without a lot of distractions, at least in the beginning. Your living room with the TV off works perfectly.
Short sessions: Five to ten minutes max. Boston Terriers are enthusiastic but they also have a natural limit before their attention wanders.
Patience: Seriously. Write it on a sticky note if you have to.
That’s genuinely it. No clicker required (though you can absolutely use one if you already clicker train).
Step One: Build the Foundation with "Shake"
Before your Boston can wave, they need to understand the concept of lifting a paw on purpose.
If they already know "shake," skip ahead. If not, here’s how to get there fast.
Hold a treat in your closed fist and put it right in front of your dog’s nose, low enough that they can smell it easily. Wait. Most dogs will sniff, lick, and eventually paw at your hand trying to get the treat.
The moment they paw at your hand, open it and let them have the treat. Say "shake" or "paw," whichever word you prefer, right as they touch you.
The Timing Matters More Than You Think
This is where a lot of people go wrong. The reward needs to happen within about one second of the behavior. Dogs don’t connect a treat they get five seconds later with the thing they did five seconds ago. Fast hands, fast reward.
Practice this ten to fifteen times per session. Most Boston Terriers will start deliberately offering their paw within a day or two.
Step Two: Shape the Shake Into a Wave
Here’s where the magic happens.
Once your dog is reliably giving you their paw, start raising your hand slightly higher each time you ask. Not dramatically. Just a few inches.
Your dog will naturally reach a little higher to make contact with your hand.
"Dogs learn by chasing what works. If reaching higher gets the treat, they’ll reach higher. You’re not forcing anything; you’re just making the right behavior the obvious choice."
Reward every attempt, even clumsy ones. The goal right now is just getting the paw to come up higher consistently.
Introducing the Hand Signal
As your dog starts reaching upward, introduce a visual cue. The classic wave signal is a hand raised with fingers pointing up, making a small back-and-forth motion, like a slow windshield wiper.
Do the signal, wait for your dog to lift their paw, then reward.
Do this repeatedly until they’re responding to the hand signal alone.
Adding the Verbal Cue
Once the hand signal is working, layer in the word. Say "wave" right before you show the signal.
After enough repetitions, your Boston will start associating the word itself with the behavior. Eventually, you can fade out the visual signal altogether if you want a fully verbal cue.
Step Three: Raise the Bar (Literally)
Now you’re going to gradually stop letting your dog make contact with your hand.
This is the step that turns a "shake" into a wave.
Hold your signal hand just slightly out of reach. Your Boston will still lift their paw expecting contact. When they do, immediately reward them before they can touch you. Over several sessions, hold your hand further and further away.
What It Should Look Like
At this stage, your dog should be lifting their paw in a little upward motion with nothing to touch. That’s the wave. It might look wobbly and unsure at first. That’s fine.
Reward the wobble. The polish comes later.
Step Four: Refine and Proof the Behavior
Now you get to be a little picky.
Start only rewarding the cleanest, most deliberate waves. If your Boston barely lifts their paw, wait. If they give you a nice clear lift, jackpot them with extra treats and enthusiasm.
This is called shaping, and it’s one of the most powerful tools in dog training. You’re letting your dog figure out that better efforts earn better rewards.
"Don’t rush the refinement stage. A trick that looks sloppy doesn’t feel satisfying for you or your dog. A few extra sessions here pays off for years."
Once the wave is solid at home, start asking for it in new places. The backyard. The front porch. At a friend’s house. Dogs don’t automatically generalize behaviors, so practicing in different environments is what makes a trick truly reliable.
Practice in Front of People
This sounds obvious, but it’s a step most people skip. If your goal is for your Boston to wave at guests, practice with guests present.
Have someone stand nearby while you ask for the wave. Then have that person ask for the wave. The more variation your dog experiences during practice, the more confident they’ll become.
Step Five: Make It Look Natural
The final piece is adding a little performance flair.
Train your dog to wave when greeting someone new by asking for the trick right as a person walks in. Pair "wave" with an excited "say hi!" if you want a verbal cue that makes sense to guests.
You can also teach a "wave goodbye" by asking for the trick as someone walks out. Same behavior, different context, and it absolutely delights people every single time.
Keeping the Trick Sharp Over Time
Once your Boston knows the wave, don’t let it gather dust.
Ask for it randomly during the week. Before meals, during walks, when you come home. Keep the reinforcement coming, even if it’s just verbal praise. Tricks that get practiced stay sharp; tricks that get ignored get rusty.
Common Hiccups and How to Handle Them
My dog keeps trying to shake instead of wave. This means the hand contact is still the expectation. Keep your hand further away and reward any upward paw movement, even small ones.
My dog loses interest quickly. Shorten your sessions. Five minutes of focused, successful training beats twenty minutes of frustration for both of you.
My dog waves but only when I hold a treat. Start hiding the treat in your other hand before asking. Reward from that hidden hand after the behavior happens. This is called "luring to cueing" and it’s how you wean off the visible treat.
Consistency is everything. Not perfection, just consistency.
The Moment It Clicks
There’s a specific moment in training when you can see a dog actually understand what they’re being asked to do. Their eyes brighten. They start offering the behavior before you even finish the cue. It’s genuinely one of the best things to witness.
Boston Terriers live for those connection moments. They want to be in on the joke with you.
The wave trick isn’t just a party trick (though it absolutely is that too). It’s proof that you and your dog speak a little bit of the same language. And honestly, that never gets old.