| Targeting AKA "Touch"
Thank You again Virginia!!!
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Targeting 101
1. Hold your hand in front of the dog’s nose. You may need to shape the behavior a little bit so if your dog even looks at your hand, mark and reinforce. Repeat about 3 times, and then ask for more.
2. If your dog’s head moves towards your hand, mark and reinforce. Repeat about 3 times, and then ask for more.
3. If your dog’s nose touches your hand, mark and reinforce.
4. Repeat, repeat, repeat. When you dog is reliably touching your hand, name it. “Touch” is a common name. Don’t name it until the dog is doing it correctly, you don’t want your dog to think that stare at me, stare at my hand is “touch”.
5. Start moving your hand around a little bit, off to each side, up, down and further away. As your dog is touching your hand with her nose, say “touch”.
6. When your dog is chasing you all over the yard, going through your legs, behind your back, etc., then say “touch” and hold out your hand.
Do this for about 5 minutes a session.
Be really, really, really happy! “Touch” is a cue that can be used to get your dog’s attention, for some reason, most dogs really love this game, so make it the most fun that you can.
Copyright Virginia Wind 2007 | 
