Touch
Tricks · 7 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to touch their nose to the trainer's hand for the verbal cue 'Touch'.
Touch is one of the most useful behaviors you can teach. A nose target lets you move Your Dog into position without reaching for their collar, redirect their focus away from a distraction, and build a happy foundation for recall and cooperative care.
For this plan you will also need:
**- A Marker:** such as a clicker or a verbal word like "Yes" to instantly mark the correct behavior. This bridges the gap between the behavior happening and the time it takes to deliver reinforcement, helping Your Dog understand exactly what they did right.
Training steps
Present a closed fist 1 inch from nose
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Put a treat in your hand, close your fist, and hold it an inch from Your Dog's nose. Mark the moment they touch your fist with their nose, then give them the treat.
Success: Your Dog touches their nose to your hand.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Present your hand 1 inch from nose
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Mark the moment Your Dog touches your hand with their nose, then give them a treat.
Success: Your Dog touches their nose to your hand.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Present your hand 1 foot from nose
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Mark the moment Your Dog touches your hand with their nose, then give them a treat.
Success: Your Dog touches their nose to your hand.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Add the verbal cue
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Say the verbal cue 'Touch', then present your hand 1 foot away from Your Dog's nose. Mark the moment they touch your hand, then give them a treat.
Success: Your Dog touches their nose to your hand.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Cue from 3 feet
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Say the verbal cue 'Touch', then present your hand 3 feet away from Your Dog. Mark the moment they touch your hand, then give them a treat.
Success: Your Dog touches their nose to your hand.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Cue from 5 feet
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Say the verbal cue 'Touch', then present your hand 5 feet away from Your Dog. Mark the moment they touch your hand, then give them a treat.
Success: Your Dog touches their nose to your hand.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Cue from 10 feet
Setup: Your Dog is standing.
Say the verbal cue 'Touch', then present your hand 10 feet away from Your Dog. Mark the moment they touch your hand, then give them a treat.
Success: Your Dog touches their nose to your hand.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Good job! You've laid a strong foundation for Touch.
Now it's time to proof Your Dog's new skill. You can restart the plan using proof steps, or play games with the goals you just earned. Practice both in different locations and around distractions.