PURPOSE: To be able to direct dog’s movement toward or away from something, e.g. away from another person or dog or toward you for a closer come finishing position, go into a crate, or move across your body so you can more easily pick your dog up from a side position rather than a frontal position, etc.
1. Place an opened hand near but to the side of your dog’s muzzle. Your dog will want to investigate it. When your dog touches it with his/her nose or muzzle, mark that behavior by saying “yes” or “good” or press the button on a clicker. Then reward your dog with a tasty treat.
2. As your dog begins to touch your opened hand reliably, precede the presentation of the opened hand with the verbal cue, “touch”. This will tell your dog that you expect him/her to touch your hand when it is presented. When your dog touches the opened hand, reward with a treat as before.
3. When your dog reliably touches your opened hand on cue, have your dog stand and direct him to touch a moving opened hand. This will force your dog to move his/her body toward your hand in order to touch it. This now enables you to direct your dog to different positions, e.g. beside you, to your other side, etc.
4. Once your dog demonstrates the above step reliably, incorporate the “touch” cue in real life training situations. For example, sit on the couch and pretend a guest is sitting on your left. Your dog is in front of you and perhaps you want to move your dog away from your guest to your right side. Using your right hand, cue your dog to touch and direct your dog to your right side away from your guest.
5. To prevent your dog from developing the habit of touching your hand when not cued to do so, present your unopened hand as before but take it away from your dog if he/she tries to touch it. Note, you did not cue your dog verbally to touch your hand, only presented the hand in his/ her sight. Repeat the process until your dog does not attempt to touch your hand. When this occurs, mark the correct behavior (of not touching your hand) by saying “yes”, “good”, or using the clicker and reward as before. Later, cue the dog to “touch” and represent the opened hand. Reward him/her if your dog touches the hand as cued. Alternate back and forth between cuing and not cuing your dog to touch while the hand is presented.