Teaching a dog to touch a specific object — usually a hand, stick, or disc — with their nose or paw on cue.
Targeting is a training method where a dog learns to touch a specific object with a part of their body, usually their nose or a paw. That object is called a target, and it might be a hand, a stick, or a small disc placed on the floor.
Targeting is one of the most useful foundation skills in dog training because so many other behaviours can be built from it.
To teach a basic hand target:
Once a dog has a solid hand target, it can be used to guide them into position without physical contact, call them past a distraction, or redirect their attention. Target sticks work the same way and are often used to guide a dog into a specific spot or through an obstacle.
Rewarding a light brush of the nose but expecting a firm, deliberate touch later on can create confusion. It helps to be consistent from the start about what counts as a touch.
It gives you a way to move a dog into position or through space without pushing or pulling them, and it's the foundation for many other behaviours, including loose lead walking and recall around distractions.
Yes. It relies on natural curiosity and doesn't need any physical strength or prior training, which makes it a good starting point for puppies and nervous dogs alike.
A nose target is usually taught first and used for guiding movement and attention. A paw target is often used for more specific tasks, such as pressing a button or touching a mat, and tends to be taught once a dog already understands the concept of targeting.
