It's always fun to teach your dog a new trick. One simple trick you can teach them is "touch it". To teach your dog this trick you will need lots of really smelly treats that can be easily broken into small pieces (lunch meat is a good idea) and a clicker. A clicker is a training tool that when pressed makes a click noise. This signals to the dog that he has performed the trick correctly. Clicker training can be used with any type of dog. (Some people even use clickers to train other types of animals such as horses or giraffes.)
First, you will need to teach your dog to associate the sound of the click with a treat. Just click the clicker and then immediately give your dog a treat. Be sure to have your treats readily available. If you take to long to give your dog the treat, the concept of the clicker won't sink in. Also remember to use verbal praise as well. Act like your dog has just invented IPods. Keep doing this [click, treat, click, treat, click, treat] until you get to the point where your dog will automatically look at you for a treat when they hear the click. Try to keep your training sessions short, 15 minutes at the most, otherwise your dog will get bored and loose focus. Clicker training should be happy, and fun, never a chore or punishment. If you or your dog gets frustrated end your training session for the day.
Next, get your dog to actually touch your hand. Rub smelly treats on your hand and place it a couple inches away from your dog's nose. Do not give your dog the "touch it" command yet. Your dog will sniff your hand anyway when it catches a whiff of the treats you rubbed on it. When your dog touches your hand to sniff it, click and treat. Try to click exactly when the dog's nose touches your hand, no later and no earlier. Dogs are smart and as they catch on they may try to cheat by just getting close to your hand instead of touching it. Do not praise this, wait until your dog touches your hand. Also, always treat with the hand that is not being touched. It will train your dog to look for the treats hidden in your hand not to look at you for a treat.
Finally, when your dog is comfortable with sniffing your hand for a treat introduce the command "touch it". When your dog touches your hand say "good touch it", click, and treat. Keep repeating this and your dog will eventually catch on. Try moving your hand further away from your dog's nose. Soon, you will be able to wean your dog off the clicker. You will be able to just say "touch it" and your dog will rush over.
For more fun, try pointing to objects and saying “touch it”. Start with big and bright colored targets (food container lids work well for beginners) and use the clicker at first to help reinforce praise. Do n
ot praise your dog until he touches the target. If you are having trouble, try putting a treat on the target. I find that peanut butter works with my dog because she will lick it and "touch it" at the same time. I have even trained her to work a bellhop bell! You can also use the clicker to teach other commands. Just catch your dog doing the behavior click and follow the same steps for "touch it". So, get out there and have fun training your dog.
First, you will need to teach your dog to associate the sound of the click with a treat. Just click the clicker and then immediately give your dog a treat. Be sure to have your treats readily available. If you take to long to give your dog the treat, the concept of the clicker won't sink in. Also remember to use verbal praise as well. Act like your dog has just invented IPods. Keep doing this [click, treat, click, treat, click, treat] until you get to the point where your dog will automatically look at you for a treat when they hear the click. Try to keep your training sessions short, 15 minutes at the most, otherwise your dog will get bored and loose focus. Clicker training should be happy, and fun, never a chore or punishment. If you or your dog gets frustrated end your training session for the day.
Next, get your dog to actually touch your hand. Rub smelly treats on your hand and place it a couple inches away from your dog's nose. Do not give your dog the "touch it" command yet. Your dog will sniff your hand anyway when it catches a whiff of the treats you rubbed on it. When your dog touches your hand to sniff it, click and treat. Try to click exactly when the dog's nose touches your hand, no later and no earlier. Dogs are smart and as they catch on they may try to cheat by just getting close to your hand instead of touching it. Do not praise this, wait until your dog touches your hand. Also, always treat with the hand that is not being touched. It will train your dog to look for the treats hidden in your hand not to look at you for a treat.
Finally, when your dog is comfortable with sniffing your hand for a treat introduce the command "touch it". When your dog touches your hand say "good touch it", click, and treat. Keep repeating this and your dog will eventually catch on. Try moving your hand further away from your dog's nose. Soon, you will be able to wean your dog off the clicker. You will be able to just say "touch it" and your dog will rush over.
For more fun, try pointing to objects and saying “touch it”. Start with big and bright colored targets (food container lids work well for beginners) and use the clicker at first to help reinforce praise. Do n
ot praise your dog until he touches the target. If you are having trouble, try putting a treat on the target. I find that peanut butter works with my dog because she will lick it and "touch it" at the same time. I have even trained her to work a bellhop bell! You can also use the clicker to teach other commands. Just catch your dog doing the behavior click and follow the same steps for "touch it". So, get out there and have fun training your dog.(above)my dog Thistle performing "touch it" with a bell
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