fetch! magazine's tricks maestros Kelly Daniel and Brody teach the 'Touch' trick
Teaching your dog tricks is a great way to add mental stimulation, help your dog with attention and focus, improve your bond with your dog and his general good manners, and have lots of fun.
This trick is best taught using a clicker.
Touch
Once your dog understands the ‘touch’ trick you could use it to recall him by putting your hand out and calling ‘Fido touch’. Your dog will run to touch your hand and get their reward. ‘Touch’ is also very useful to hold your dog’s heel position while walking – if their nose is touching your hand, it can’t be getting into trouble!
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Make sure you have handled some treats so your hands smell really good
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Hold out your empty hand, palm towards your dog, at nose level
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Hold your hand still, and be patient. The instant your dog’s nose touches your palm, click and reward from the other hand or a pocket
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Repeat many times, switching hands occasionally
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When your dog is hitting your palm the majority of the time, start adding more of a challenge by putting your hand in different places – up high, down by the ground, between your legs or back
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Now you can add a vocal command to the behaviour. Place your hand in front of your dog, and say ‘touch’. Click and reward as per normal, but as you give the dog its treat say ‘Good touch’
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Continue to reinforce the touch, but make sure you only reward when you ask for the behaviour, and start to randomise the rewards so your dog doesn’t always expect a treat every time
Photo by Matilda van Rijnberk/equinepictures.net
