Teaching a Hand Touch
 

The shape of the hand and its position become visual cues for different behaviours.  For example: the back of the fingers of a flat extended hand pointing downwards becomes a distinct signal for the dog to touch the back of the fingers with his nose.  However, with the palm of the hand upwards and extended horizontally, it can be a cue for the dog to shake hands by placing a paw on your hand.  If the palm is held vertically facing the dog it can become a visual cue to give a hi-five.

For dogs that have issues with strangers, teaching them to touch the back of a stranger's hand with their nose is an excellent way to teach them to say hello. It also keeps people happy (and they will stop forcing themselves onto your dog if your dog has said 'hello'). A nose to back of the hand touch can also be useful for teaching close heelwork. A nose to palm touch can be invaluable in re-focussing a dog, in teaching a recall and in teaching the dog to deliver objects to hand (retrieve).

If you teach the dog that the cue 'touch' means put its nose on whatever is presented, then you can teach the dog a multitude of targets and 'tricks' such as turn the lights on and off, shut the door etc.

How to start a nose touch:

·        Place a piece of smelly food between the middle two fingers near to the base of the fingers.

·        Hold your hand straight and stiff and present the back of your hand towards the dog’s nose. Your hand should be only a few centimetres from the dog's nose.

·        When he sniffs the back of your hand to smell the food, click (clicker held in your other hand) and take out the treat and give it to the dog. Repeat this step no more than 5 times.

·        Appear to do the same routine but leave out the food this time, then hold out your hand in exactly the same way.  Click him for sniffing and take a treat from your other hand and give it to him. Once he has successfully done this with your hand a few centimetres in front of his nose, move your hand slightly further away. Move your hand slightly to his right, then to his left, then slightly up or slightly down.

·        Repeat this so that the dog moves his head towards your hand each time it is offered, and click and treat. 

·        When the dog moves to your hand without hesitation every time, introduce the ‘touch’ cue just before you offer the hand.

At this stage, you are standing still except for the movement of your hand and arms to signal and reward.  The hand is being offered near enough to the dog so he only has to move his head to reach your hand. 

The next stage is to position your offered hand so the dog has to make more effort to touch it.  So mover your hand so that the dog has to take one step at first to touch it, then two steps, then by moving your hand from your front to one side then another.  Each extra move by the dog is clicked and treated after each nose touch.  Remember that the click ends the behaviour and a treat will be given.  Let the dog savour each treat before asking for the next touch. 

It is important that you present the hand as a distinct signal.  Do it with a flourish to attract your dog’s attention.  As soon as he has touched it and you have clicked, the target hand is relaxed and withdrawn, until the next deliberate presentation. 

To increase the strength of your dog’s targeting behaviour, gradually make it harder by throwing the treat further away and by beginning to move away yourself before presenting the hand signal. 

The next progression is to change the behaviour from a single nudge to an extended contact with the nose.  This is achieved by using the shaping technique.  After many clicks and treats for every single nose touch you suddenly withhold the click for the next nudge.  Keep your hand still and wait for the dog to offer something, anything else.  It is usually a second nudge – great, click and treat it.  Now shape it until the dog begins to maintain nose contact, for a second at first then two seconds and so on.