Touch

Steps

Phase 1 - Acquisition (Learning and Luring) 

1. With a treat in between your fingers, present your hand. The dog should come and get it. As soon as their nose touches your hand, mark and they’ll get the reward. If they don’t go for it just mark when they look at it and reward and then get them interested in getting the treat out of your hand if there’s no progress.

2. Repeat this until your dog reliably touches your hand.

3. Now remove the treat and present your hand, they should run over to it and touch it. At the slightest touch, mark and reward from your other hand. After they are going for your hand and pressing on it firmly 5/5 times you can move on to naming it.

Phase 2 - Automatic (Motivation)

1. Now add the verbal command. Before presenting your hand, say, “Touch” and then put your hand down. (Be sure to pause for a second between the command and reaching down.)

2. When your dog responds reliably to the verbal command, begin to increase the distance of your dog’s head from your hand by a few inches and switch hands.

3. Keep increasing the distance little by little. Also, move your hand to different positions. Once they are doing it 5/5 times every session you can move onto Phase 3.

Phase 3 - Generalization (Distractions)

• So now your dog touches your hand every time you say “Touch”. Congratulations! It’s time to show the dog that “Touch” means “Touch” everywhere else too. You can reference the Phases of Learning page to get more ideas on how to help generalize. Here are a few to get you started:

1. This can also be a fun command for the dog if you put your hand up high they have to jump for it. Most dogs like jumping and this can break up a monotonous training session or walk. 

2. Try making more of an event out of it by running backwards with your hand out so they need to chase after it.