The Touch Cue.
Touch is a cue that I like to use instead of the come cue. I have successfully taught this cue to almost any puppy or dog. It is very helpful for dogs who won’t come when you call them to you. A lot of dogs will ignore the word come, look at you or only come a little bit towards you. Some dogs respond well to the come cue.
Your dog is supposed to touch their nose to the palm of your hand. Here is how to teach your dog to touch. To start teaching your dog touch, have a treat in your hand with your palm open, and when the dog's nose touches your hand to get the treat, say good touch. You will repeat this process ten times. Take a step back each time with a treat in your hand and say touch. After the tenth time of doing this, back up and say touch without a treat in your hand. After your dog touches the palm of your hand, reward it with a treat. Now, you are going to touch without a treat in your hand every other time and have a treat in your hand every other time. This way, you can slowly fade away from using so many treats. After your dog touches your hand without a treat, reward your dog with a treat still.
Now we can add some distance. Have the dog on a 10 to 15-footleash. Get a treat ready. Say the dog’s name and touch. The dog should come running. When the dog touches your hand, say yes, and reward it with a treat. We can also introduce the dog to distractions. Have the dog wander away and say, touch. Once the dog touches your hand, say yes and reward it with a treat. Touch is a reliable cue to use instead of come. You will have a better success rate.
The come cue tends to be less effective than touch. Many dogs will only come in the vicinity of you, look at you and not come at all, or completely ignore you. That is why I love teaching every new puppy or dog I train the touch cue. I have had great success with touch!
Book a private lesson today to learn how to teach your puppy or dog touch.
