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Sit to Say
Please
Practice "touch" and "off" and then deliver the
goods!
Dog Behavior Library
Teaching Dogs
to Touch Targets
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What is
"Targeting"?
Many of the
behaviors that
we want our dogs
to perform
require the
ability to get
the dog to focus
his attention on
a particular
location or
object. A very
versatile tool
for controlling
these types of
behaviors is a
"target stick."
There are many
commercially
available target
sticks or you
can use a wooden
dowel. You can
teach your dog
the "Touch" cue
using
the extended
item, or
extended
hand or
finger.
What to do
-
 First,
teach the
dog to
recognize
the target
and then
learn to
control the
targeting
behavior.
-
Begin with
your dog in
front of
you.
Practice a
few other
instructions
such as sit
and down
followed by
a treat to
get your dog
prepped for
the new
lesson.
-
Then,
present the
target. A
normal
response is
for your dog
to sniff it
to see if
there is a
treat
involved and
for pure
exploration.
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If the dog
sniffs the
target to
explore what
you have
held out and
presented,
immediately
respond with
excited
praise. If
the dog's
nose
actually
touches the
target,
raise the
level of
praise and
deliver an
immediate
treat
reward.
-
The behavior
you want to
shape is
your dog
touching the
target with
the nose.
-
If your dog
does not
touch the
target, pull
it away,
then try
again.
Initially,
it may be
easier for
the dog if
you always
present the
target
rather than
leaving it
in view.
-
When the dog
"gets it"
then move
the target
and continue
to reinforce
with excited
praise and
intermittent
treats.
-
Select one
word that
you use
consistently
to instruct
your dog.
This pairs
the learned
behavior
with a
verbal cue.
A common
word used
for this
behavior is
"touch."
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Once you have
a "target trained" dog, the
applications are almost
endless. You can use
targeting to teach off leash
heeling, recalls, ring a
bell to go out, etc.
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Clicker training and
targeting
If your dog is
clicker-trained, you
can use the clicker
to give clear
instructions on what
you want your dog to
do. If you want to
learn how to
clicker train
your dog, consider
googling Karen Pryor
to purchase
materials.
What to do
-
A simple way to
target-train
your dog using a
clicker is to
first get the
dog's attention,
then place your
finger in front
of your dog's
nose.
-
If the dog
investigates
your finger,
click and treat.
(C&T)
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Gradually start
offering your
finger
at greater
distances, to
the left, right,
above and below
the dog's nose.
-
When the
behavior is
happening with
regularity,
start giving the
cue, such as
"Touch", just
before you offer
your finger.
Transferring from
finger to the target
stick:
Offer the tip of the
stick, slightly
above the dog's
nose. Give the cue,
"Touch". If
the dog touches the
stick, C&T. Repeat
the training process
that you used for
teaching the dog to
touch your finger.
You don't have to
use a clicker to
teach targeting, you
can also use a
verbal reward marker
such as "yes" or
"good". Once she
gets good at it you
should be able to
hold your hand or a
target stick up at a
distance and ask for
a "touch".
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