Target Training

[MarkoManojlovic]

Hi Adrienne,

I just started using your program with our 3-year old Staffie. He picked right up on the nose targeting but is struggling with the paw targeting a bit. It’s still early so I’m sure eventually he’ll get the concept.

I wanted to ask about how do we distinguish between the two down the road? How would he know which one I’m asking for as the cue is the same? Would it be good to use “touch” instead of “target” for paw targeting?

Thank you very much in advance!

Marko

[Adrienne]

Hello, and welcome to the forums!

Many dogs are prone to using their nose more because they're so in tune with sniffing. With the post-it note method, you have to wait until your dog gets closer to it and mark/reward when he ends up stepping on it. 

Initially I tend to use the cue "target" in a general way just to simply teach the dog the skill to "move a body part towards an object" it therefore gets the dog to think and learn how he can "operate" with his own body. Down the road though, if you are planning to build on these two behaviors specifically, you can certainly help your dog discriminate between nose targets and paw targets by putting them specifically on a distinctive cue. If we want to get even pickier, we can even give different names to how things are "targeted" for example, we can start giving a specific cue for placing a paw on something (like a post-it note) and another cue for hitting something with a paw, and we can use a cue for pushing something with the nose (like closing an open cabinet) versus simply nose touching. 

You can therefore use "nose" for nose targets, and "target" for paw targets or target for nose targets and "strike" or "smack" for paw targets. There may be chances that "touch" and "target'" may sound a little too similar as they both start with "ta" as pronunciation and many dogs tend to anticipate us which may lead to the dog getting it wrong, so just something to consider.

You can really use any words you prefer as cues as long as they aren't too similar sounding to other cues. 

Happy training!

 

[MarkoManojlovic]

Very interesting! I’m looking forward to getting that far in the training. Thank you!

[Adrienne]

You're very welcome! 

Happy training!

[SFernando]

Hi Adrienne,

I have a small issue. My german shepherd puppy prefers to eat the post it note rather than touch it. She targets my hand perfectly, even my foot if I give it to her and say 'touch'. But the moment she sees the post it note she grabs it and chews it. She will leave it if I say 'leave it' but after that if I ask her to target it she still eats it haha. Anything I can do about this?

[Adrienne]

Hi there!

Welcome to the forums!

Often this happens when the puppy perceives the paper more appealing than the treats used or when a reward history hasn't established yet and the puppy hasn't gotten a "taste of the game"-so to say

Here are some options:

-Try shaping: For this, you'll need to be very fast. In other words, initially click (if you're clicker training) and toss a treat for walking towards the post-it note, then for walking towards it and moving the head towards it, then for making nose contact with it (before he has a chance to chew it). Chances are, once she realizes the purpose of the game, she'll learn that it's more rewarding to interact with the post-it note rather than chewing it. 

-Keep your post it note in your hand with the thumb over it so he can' grasp it, and practice clicking and rewarding sniffing it, and light nose touches before keeping it on the ground.

-Some puppies find paper irresistible. You can try to substitute the post-it note with something else that is safe to use and see if she'll interact with it without chewing it or being tempted to carry it around. Other objects that come to mind are yogurt lids, Tupperware lids and rulers used as a target stick.