Training has a very good effect on the discipline of the dog. If your pet knows what a command is, it listens to the owner better. With a well-behaved dog, you will not be afraid to go outside, take off the collar from the pet or approach other people. Training skills is very beneficial for both the person and the pet. The study of commands itself can turn into an interesting game. Through such interaction, trust and friendship are formed between the owner and the dog.
What are the benefits of training?
You have probably noticed more than once that our four-legged friends behave differently during walks. Some owners are proud of their dog’s behavior and obedience. Other dogs sometimes try to tug at the collar, approach a stranger, or ruin the lawn. The secret of such behavior is in training, education, and taking into account the temperamental characteristics of the pet. Animal owners may notice that regular emotional interaction in a positive tone contributes to the pet’s better well-being. And professional dog handlers recommend paying attention to the dog and communicating with it.1
The “touch” command involves the pet touching a certain object as instructed by the owner. The pet can do this with its nose or paw. But it is best to choose the first option, since in the second case you can learn the “Give me a paw” command.
Another way to perform the “touch” command is to place your front paws completely on the object. This trick is a godsend if you need to hold your pet in a certain position for a long time. You can use it to wash your paws when visiting the vet. You can also teach your dog to touch on command to combat fears. If your pet is still not used to the vacuum cleaner, there is a very interesting way to accustom your pet to such a noisy object. Of course, you can’t say for sure that the dog will stop being afraid of the vacuum cleaner. But some changes in its attitude towards it will occur. If you teach your pet to stand with both front paws on the switched off device, it will feel like a “winner”. The main thing is to accompany the training with good emotions.
The essence of the touch command?
There are quite a few commands. But each has its own name, denoting a certain action. For example, “give paw” and “touch” are different skills, although they are similar to each other. In order for the dog not to get confused when performing exercises, the owner must first independently choose the skill and the stimulus word. You can start teaching the command only if you have fully imagined how to give instructions to the pet. It is important to explain each action to the dog with one instruction. Training is divided into stages, which makes it as easy as possible to learn the command algorithm. If the dog cannot learn the correct movement at some point, spend more time.
The word “touch” comes from the English language. It is translated as “touch”. That is, if we want to teach a dog the “touch” command, we must show it that it needs to touch the object. Rewards at the end of a correctly performed exercise will be an incentive to repeat the movement correctly. But if you want to make the dog switch from one command to another faster, you can use a clicker.
It is interesting to know that the “touch” command for dogs is used as a base for many exercises. Moreover, you can trim your pet’s claws or wipe their paws. The command can be mastered in a week if you train diligently and regularly. This does not mean the duration of training, but your involvement in the process. If the dog feels your seriousness, it will behave in a disciplined manner and successfully complete the exercise. And a treat at the end of a correctly completed task will be a good reward.
We touch the object with our nose
As we have already said, depending on your choice, the “touch” command may look different. The essence of the exercise itself does not change. In any case, the dog will need to touch the surface or the person. One of the most interesting tricks is touching the nose. When a person teaches a dog the “touch” command, he uses a treat. First, you need to show the pet that you have a treat in your hand. You can also let the dog sniff your closed hand, and then feed it. Cynologists also recommend giving a reward from the other palm. When touching the hand with the nose, you can set a “marker”, that is, click once and reward.
If you have managed to touch your hand, the next step is to track your pet and move it after your palm. Choose a convenient object that is at the level of the dog’s nose. Next, a treat and a clicker will help you. As soon as the pet approaches it, make it touch its nose.
We touch the object with our paws
To begin with, we recommend using one object. It can be located at floor level and reach the middle of the pet’s height. Everything depends on the breed and age of the dog. When starting training, make sure that the dog will be comfortable touching it with its paws.
The algorithm for teaching a pet the “touch” command is not complicated, but the owner needs to determine the sequence of actions:
- To begin, take a treat in your hand and move it from your pet’s nose to the object;
- As soon as the dog is near the object, make it step on it with its paw. If the pet succeeds in doing this, click the clicker or say “yes”. To reinforce the skill, it needs to be encouraged;
- When training the “touch” command, the dog should receive a treat only for a correctly performed action;
- Reinforce the exercise by repeating it several times;
- Soon you will be able to progress to performing without food. First, introduce the stimulus word “touch” and say it before the dog puts his paws on the object;
- Then you need to practice the exercise without food. The treat is shown only after it is done correctly.
You can also make the task more difficult and take different objects. To teach your dog to touch, place the inventory around the room. Then lead your pet to one object at a time, reward and continue the exercise.
Using a target and marking behavior
In order to teach a dog to perform the “touch” exercise, you need to choose a “target”. This is the name of the pointer that will lead the dog to a certain object. This can be a hand or a lid in the hand, under which a treat is hidden.
The “marking” technique can be used for different purposes. To reinforce a command, a marker is given before praise and a treat. For example, if your pet puts at least one paw on an object during training, you can “mark” this action. A clicker or the owner’s approval can be used as a marker when teaching the “touch” command. This way the dog understands that it did the right thing. To reinforce the pet’s behavior and the learned exercises, training should be regular.