“Touch” – a useful skill for dogs of all ages

Hello, friends! For this month’s Training Tip, we are going to learn one of my favorite skills: “Touch!”  

“Touch” is where your dog will touch your open hand with their nose. This skill is incredibly useful as a recall or as a redirection. I also love to teach this skill to mouthy puppies as it gives them something to do with their mouth (that isn’t biting you!).

Items needed to teach this skill: treats

Step 1: Put a treat between your pointer and middle finger close to your palm. Then, hold your hand out with your palm facing your dog. (It is ideal that you are very close to your dog while teaching this.)

Step 2: When your dog sniffs or goes to eat the treat that’s between your fingers say “yes!” and let them eat the treat. The key is saying “yes” when they make contact with your hand.

Step 3: Repeat 10x

Step 4: Hold your hand out towards your dog without a treat between your fingers.

Step 5: When your dog touches your hand say “yes” and as quickly as possible give them a treat.

Step 6: Repeat 10x

Tip: Don’t look at your dog when you hold your hand out. Instead look at your hand! Where your gaze goes their focus will follow!

Step 7: At this stage, your dog should be fairly quick to touch your palm when you hold it out. If not, repeat Step 2 more. If they are proficient at it we can now add the word “touch”.

Step 8: Say “touch” as you present your hand to them. Say “yes” when they touch your hand and quickly reward.

Step 9: Repeat!

Step 10: Now have fun adding distance and distractions! The goal with this skill is that your dog can be far away and when you say “touch!” they run back to you and touch your hand.

Tips:

1. If your dog is struggling, rub your hand with a smelly treat to encourage them to sniff your hand.

2. If your dog is uninterested, try using higher value treats.

3. Go at your dog’s pace! Sometimes it can be tempting to quickly up the difficulty, but this can discourage your dog. Go slow, and let their confidence grow.

I’m so excited for you and your dogs to learn this skill. If you teach your dog this skill, let me know how it goes! Or better yet, share a video of you and your dog showing off your new skill and tag @nuzzlesandco and @junipertrails on Instagram!

Happy Training!

Melissa 🐾