Task 1: Target touching

This task is your first step to learning to learn. In this task you will be introduced to the clicker and the fundamentals of target training. It is the key to your dog’s learning and, also, a useful skill in your future training.

Before training:

Before you begin training, test whether the treats you are using are treats that your dog is willing to work for. Next, make sure your dog is used to the sound of the clicker and is not afraid of it. At first, click behind your back to adjust the volume of your clicker. Give your dog a treat for each click.

Clicker rules

  • The treat is always given to the dog after the click (not at the same time)
  • Be careful that your motions and expressions do not reveal that a treat is coming until after the click
  • The click can be compared to pressing the button of a camera. In a manner of speaking, with a clicker you take a picture of the moment the dog is responding correctly to the task at hand
  • A suitable time between the click and the receiving of the treat is 1 second

Click tip: the easiest way of controlling unintentional and anticipatory movements is, at first, to use the same hand for clicking and giving the treat. You can also practise timely clicking in the ILOMME clicking game!

Task stages

Stage 1. Create value for your hand

  • Show the dog your hand as on the video
  • React…
    • Click and give a treat when the dog looks at your hand
    • If the dog doesn’t look at your hand within a second, put your hand out of sight
  • Repeat 3 to 5 times

Stage 2. Shaping hand touch

  • Show the dog your hand and wait for a movement towards the hand
  • React…
    • If the dog doesn’t move towards your hand within a second, put your hand out of sight
    • Click and give a treat when the dog moves towards your hand
  • After the click give the treat away from the target hand so that the dog returns to his starting point
  • Repeat until the dog’s muzzle touches your hand repeatedly

Stage 3. Separate and favor only the good touches

  • Show your hand and wait for the dog to touch it
  • React…
    • If the dog doesn’t touch your hand within a second, put it out of sight
    • Click when the dog touches your hand
  • After the click give the treat away from the target hand so that the dog returns to his starting point
  • Repeat until the dog touches your hand strongly immediately after you show him your hand

Recap

  • introduce your dog to the clicker
  • create value for your hand
  • shape the hand touch
  • favor good touches

Test yourself

Show the dog your hand as presented on the video. You have passed the test when:

  1. The dog touches your hand repeatedly and strongly
  2. The dog touches your hand within one second of seeing it