Foot Targeting in Dog Training
Dog Foot Training
Avoid the temptation to help the dog by coaxing, luring with food, or holding his paw to get the behavior. Your dog will learn more quickly without that type of help. This type of training uses the technique of shaping behavior. The process of shaping involves rewarding small steps towards the final behavior.
STEP ONE:
Reward for looking at the target. Be prepared to click and reward immediately if the dog shows interest in the target when you set it on the floor. If the dog shows no interest, remove the target from sight for a few seconds then present it again. You can also try holding the target in your hand. When the dog is repeatedly moving towards the target, move on to step two.
STEP TWO:
Click and feed the dog for touching his nose to the target. After a few tries, the dog will most likely touch the target more vigorously. Now move on to Step Three.
STEP THREE:
Stop clicking for nose touches. Many dogs will begin to paw at the target out of frustration. Click and feed for any foot touches to the target. If the dog doesn’t attempt to touch the target, toss a treat away from the target then click when the dog walks toward the target. Continue to click/reward for foot movement.
Service Dog Training Certification…
STEP FOUR:
Stop clicking for foot movement, wait for the dog’s foot to touch the target. Continue clicking and feeding each time the dog touches the target.
When the dog is consistently pawing the target when you set it down, you can add the cue. The cue can be whatever you like. Some trainers use "touch", "paw" or "target" as the cue.
Keep in mind that each dog is an individual, with his/her unique behavior and learning style.
If the dog seems to shut down, he may be ill, fatigued or too stressed to continue training.
As for rewards; some dogs may prefer play or petting instead of food treats so keep that in mind.
Author: Marvyn H
From the website with all the information you need on dog training; TrainDogsHome.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marvyn_H
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