Dogs are smart and always need something new to learn or at least build on a previous behavior.
A good place to start is focus on 10 min AM and 10 min PM for the 2 days that you’re off and have time to dedicate the time to teaching your dogs. Once they know multiple behaviors… then work 5 min AM and 5 min PM each day.
A list of behaviors to start with are:
Here is the last step to “Touch”
Take it on the Road:
Practice in every room of your house, backyard, front yard, driveway, park, and pet store. Practice when you have company, when the kids are being loud, any and every distraction that you can use to practice is the best way to have a reliable “Touch”, so no matter what your dog will always come and touch your hand.
Practicing this behavior everywhere you go, will help your dog respond to you in every situation, but if you only practice at home, he will only respond to you at home.
Hi guys! Keep up the good work!! I hope you are seeing more progress.
Here is the next step to “Touch”
If your dog is running to you and touching your hand every time you present it, then you are ready to give it a name! Go back to the first step. Present your hand a few inches from your dog’s nose and when your dog touches your hand, say “Touch” or “Nose” (whichever you prefer… something that is easy for you to remember). It should go like this: offer hand, dogs touches hand/say “Touch”, C/T! Repeat. Work with both hands. After a few touches with you saying “touch” when he touches, start saying it when he is starting to go for your hand, repeat this a few times. After practicing for a little bit, say “Touch” then present your hand and see what your dog does. If he touches, GREAT, you’re ready to move on. If he doesn’t touch your hand, go back to making it easier for your dog.
Hello Again!! How’s training going?? Do you enjoy working with your dog? Let me know!!
Here is the next step to “Touch”
We want your dog to move toward the target (your hand). Present your hand a few inches away from your dogs face, when he touches it, C/T. Move your hand to the side of your dog’s head, when he touches, C/T! Try stepping away from your dog and see if he touches your hand, again if he touches, C/T! Try mixing it up by presenting your hand down low, away from your body, through your legs, etc. Move farther from your dog and see if he’ll come to you to touch your hand. If at any point your dog doesn’t do it, make it easier; move your hand closer, if it’s on the ground, raise it. Our goal as the trainer is to help our dogs succeed.
Hey everyone!! I hope youre not going crazy being cooped up in your house. Sometimes it feels that way to me, so we go outside and enjoy the fresh air… the downside is that it has been raining a lot and it’s been very chilly, but its suppose to warm up soon.
Today I’m sharing the first steps to “Touch”. Touch is when your dog comes and touches his nose to your hand or another object. It is a great alternate to come because the dog has to come and touch you to complete the behavior. This is also a great behavior for dogs that are scared of things. Once your dog knows the cue you can use it to “touch” the scary thing (whether a vets hand, the vacuum cleaner, anything your dog finds scary).
First Steps:
You’ll need your clicker, treats, timer, and treat pouch (if desired). Find a comfortable spot to sit or stand. Hold out the opposite hand that is holding your clicker in front of your dogs nose. Curiosity will take over and he will sniff your hand. Click and Treat (C/T)! Take your hand away. Then present your hand again and when he sniffs/touches/licks your hand he gets a click and treat! If your dog doesn’t show interest in your hand, just take your hand away and present it again.
Your goal is to get 10 hand touches with clicks and treats in 40 seconds.
I will be posting the next step next week. Practice all week- just 10 treats worth of training/per each session.
Touch is an awesome behavior, my dog and I love this cue. He loves it because it’s easy and he has a long history of rewards for it. I love it, because he comes when called and he gets close enough to touch him. I also use it for getting him use to scary objects, so he isnt scared of a specific object anymore.
Touch is when your dog comes to you and touches his nose to your hand. The goal is to say “Touch”, present your open palm, hold it there and enjoy watching your dog bolt toward you.
How to start:
1st session: Get your clicker and 10 treats. Place your hand in front of your dogs nose (super close), when they hit it with their nose, click and treat (C/T). Do this 10 times (until your treats are gone). Give your dog a few min break or come back to it when you have time. Give your dog a few treats tossed on the floor to signify training is done.
2nd session: Get your clicker and 10 treats. Now you hold your hand a few inches away, C/T, when your dog touches his nose to your hand. Move your hand to both sides, a few more inches away, etc. (until your treats are gone).
3rd session: Get your clicker and 10 treats. By now your dog should know what to do when your hand is presented. If your dog touches your hand RIGHT when you put your hand out there, when his nose touches your hand, you say “Touch” or “Nose” or whatever cue you want put on this behavior is up to you, as long as you are consistent. You want to do this a few times, the instant his nose touches your hand, you say your cue (I will go with touch for the remainder of this blog, because that is what I use).
4th session: Get your clicker and 10 treats. Now move a few steps away and test the cue, “touch” THEN present your hand and see if your dog comes to you to touch your hand. If he does, GREAT, continue putting more and more space between you and your dog, eventually taking it in the back yard and then (putting your dog on a long line) front yard and park. IF your dog is not coming to you just yet, go back to sessions 2 or 3, depending where your dog is at.
No matter where your dog is at by session 4, whether you can move forward or you have to take a step back, don’t worry about it. Dogs learn at different paces, it’s our job to be consistent and patient and reward greatly for the correct behaviors and IGNORE any wrong behavior.
