Teaching a Nose Target -Touch Your Hand: A Key Skill for Dogs

[@dogsexplained]

The presentation of the hand is a cue. You can add a verbal cue if you want to use it as a beginning for other behaviors. For example, if you want the dog to touch an object with her nose such as a door in the beginning of training a push. The cue becomes a prompt that is faded.

[@TrainingPositive]

Nice one! It really is one of the most essential cues. I sometimes use it for a really close recall.

[@ilovecanines]

Very well done! I'm going to use this as a reference for my students!

[@VTECsqznN2O]

Great video. Personally I find this the most important thing I teach. Five stars

[@KathCharlton]

Another excellent vid...it is great to start a puppy off with hand targets, i use this behaviour to teach them 'stand' and many more things. I do get them to target up high as it was the way i taught them to jump straight up off the ground by using my hand initally, to give them an idea of the behaviour and then fading it out. It is also one of the first behaviours i teach to my cat who is clicker trained:)

[@dogsexplained]

Try making sure that your hand is placed so its easier for her to reach it with her nose than her paw. Also take your hand away if she stops offering and then present it again. Good luck!

[@f1el6]

jessie is so cute :) targeting is very usefull in agility as a recall. i also found that essential while training retrieve, it was just the thing i needed to get pipsa bring the dumbell to my hand. excellent video!

[@tehrenberg]

Such a useful skill, every dog should know this one. 5*

[@cyberrallyo]

Donna, your videos are the best! Thanks for making them. I'm sending this one to a student today!

[@dogsexplained]

Glad they are helpful! Share away!

[@adriennegiesbrecht2220]

I really like the way you train dogs! I got a rescue dog that appears very smart and quick to learn. She wants to please. I want to train her for my sister who is handicapped. thanks for the inspiration!

[@dogsexplained]

You must remember that not everyone who watches the video uses shaping. (Despite the fact that I enjoy shaping to get new behaviors)

[@dogsexplained]

@cellist81 She's a 30lb fine-boned dog who's mom was a GSDX and whose dad was likely a miniature pinscher. They do pick up on this quickly. Just make sure not to mark and reward licks or bites or that is what you will get!

[@AmazonWolves]

How do you teach the rear paw target? My border collie has mastered nose and front paw targeting (thanks to your videos, they are very helpful!) but we can't seem to get the back paw target. Any ideas?

[@travisandmissydog]

My dog is wanting to softly lick my hand vs touching it with the nose. How can I mold her into using her nose to "touch" my hand? Thanks!

[@cellist81]

what kind of dog do you have?? It looks EXACTLY like my puppy who is 6 months old! He is a very smart dog and I'm going to be trying to teach him this!!

[@VTECsqznN2O]

not sure why this is in reply to me? I am quite versed in theory and actually am very non verbal with my personal animals. I also train varanus and other non mammals. I don't think you have to worry about me naming things that the animal doesn't understand. In fact its quite a common novice mistake to name a behavior that isn't fluent yet because you risk associating the verbal with the imperfect behavior, or the wrong behavior. ;) ;) :)

[@dogsexplained]

@ilovecanines Glad it's helpful!

[@travisandmissydog]

My dog is wanting to softly lick my hand vs touching it with the nose. How can I mold her into using her nose to "touch" my hand? Thanks!