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Touch

The “Touch” cue is a versatile, easy-to-teach behavior that can be used in various situations. It builds your dog’s focus, confidence, and engagement with you, making it a valuable tool for both training and everyday life.



Why Teach “Touch”?


  • Improves Focus: Helps your dog pay attention to you in distracting environments.

  • Provides Redirection: A great way to redirect your dog from unwanted behaviors.

  • Builds Confidence: Encourages shy or anxious dogs to engage with their surroundings.

  • Useful in Daily Life: Can be used for recall, positioning, and polite greetings.

  • Fun Trick: It's a simple and engaging trick that most dogs enjoy learning.


Step 1: Get Your Dog to Do the Behavior


  • Starting a couple of feet away from your dog, say their name or make a fun sound to get their attention.

  • Hold your flat hand out at your dog’s nose level with your palm facing them.

  • When your dog sniffs or touches your hand with their nose, immediately say “Yes!” or click with a clicker and reward with a treat.

  • Repeat this several times, with each hand, to help your dog make the connection.


Step 2: Add the Verbal Cue


  • Once your dog consistently touches your hand, say “Touch” just before you present your hand.

  • Mark and reward every successful touch with a treat and praise.


Step 3: Increase Difficulty


  • Gradually move your hand to different positions (higher, lower, or to the side).

  • Increase distance between you and your dog - not too much! Make sure to set them up for success.

  • Practice in different environments to generalize the behavior, slowly adding distractions.


Step 4: Use a Target Object (Optional)


  • You can teach your dog to touch a specific object, like a target stick, post-it note, or ball.

  • This can be useful for advanced tasks, such as turning off lights or closing doors.


Troubleshooting Tips


  • Dog ignores your hand? Try using a treat to lure them toward your hand. Gradually phase out the lure once they understand the behavior.

  • Dog thinks you are asking for “shake”? You can use a closed fist, back of your hand, or two fingers instead of an open flat hand!

  • Dog mouths your hand? Remove your hand and wait for a gentle nose touch. Reward only when the touch is appropriate.


Practical Uses for “Touch”

  • Recall: Use "Touch" to call your dog back to you.

  • Positioning: Help guide your dog into different positions (e.g., beside you or onto a scale).

  • Greeting People: Teach your dog to greet people with a nose touch instead of jumping.

  • Confidence Building: Encourage a shy dog to explore new environments by targeting objects.

  • Redirection: Use "Touch" to distract your dog from unwanted behaviors (e.g., barking, pulling on leash).


Training Tips

  • Keep sessions short and fun to maintain your dog’s interest.

  • Practice in different environments to help your dog generalize the behavior.

  • Use high-value treats to keep your dog motivated, especially in distracting situations.

  • Be patient, set your dog up for success, and reward progress at every step.


Resources:

Touch for a Fearful Dog- Smart Bitch Modern Dog Training

Touch Target Training- Kikopup

How and Why to Teach Hand Targeting- Laurie Luck

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