How to Help a Shy Dog Blossom Using Targeting and Clicker Training
The trainer squishes the smelly food treat into the space between the second and third fingers down near the palm of their hand., Standing sideways with the target hand nearest the dog, the trainer waits for the dog to sniff her hand., Then the food...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: The trainer squishes the smelly food treat into the space between the second and third fingers down near the palm of their hand.
When he sniffs, he gets a click or "Yes" and then can lick out the treat from between the fingers or she can just open her fingers and let the treat fall to the ground.
This step is repeated 10-15 times. , When the dog sniffs/touches your hand, he is clicked and treated BUT now the treat comes from the other non-target hand.
If the dog is confidently reaching out to touch your hand, then start moving the hand a little so his nose has to follow it before the click/treat.
This step is repeated until the dog can follow your hand around the building in all directions.
Before moving to #4 the dog should be able to "touch" repeatedly before the click/treat.
The "touch" to your hand should be a nice strong push, not just a soft touch. , A chair works great for this step.
For some dogs you may need to help them at first by going back to putting a treat between your fingers.
Rub the treat on the surface of the chair and lead the dog's nose to chair with your smelly target hand.
Click when his nose touches the chair.
When the dog gets the idea of touching the new object with his nose you can begin to work on sending him from greater and greater distances.
Once the dog becomes "hooked" on touching his nose to the target it's time to take it on the road. , This stranger needs to be careful not to make any eye contact and to be relaxed, sideways to the dog, and maybe even to yawn! Have the stranger sit in the chair with its hand down by one side with the palm outwards.
The yummy treat is squished between two fingers, but is easy for the dog to lick out.
Don't click when the dog takes a treat.
Just let him make his own approach, replace each treat until he has taken a treat from the stranger 10 times. , You should be standing still just looking and calmly talking to the stranger.
Wait for the dog to "touch" the stranger's now empty palm.
Click/treat for the touch.
As soon as the dog finishes his treat, ask for "touch".
If the dog goes to the stranger's palm, click and a big jackpot would be well deserved.
Build on targeting stranger's hands
- changing posture, location, gender, etc.
Targeting a hand make contacting strangers a comfortable behavior providing us with a positive way to reward social interaction. , Start someplace safe, then go on walks.
Have other volunteers come up and have your dog target their hand.
Remember, when you're first training in a new environment you may need to go back to the first step for a while until your dog can perform the behavior reliably.
Never be afraid to back up! Fearful dogs have a much harder time becoming operant.
Much of the environment is aversive to them which is why developing a reward for touching through targeting the hand gives you a way to move them around the environment and feel safe and reinforced.
Don't expect too much too soon. -
Step 2: Standing sideways with the target hand nearest the dog
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Step 3: the trainer waits for the dog to sniff her hand.
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Step 4: Then the food reward is removed from the hand and you begin again.
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Step 5: The next step involves having the dog transfer the target to an object.
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Step 6: Your shy dog should be confident enough about what he gets for targeting that you can try making a "new" person target.
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Step 7: Now the stranger has NO treat in her hand.
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Step 8: Be sure to take your targeting outside.
Detailed Guide
When he sniffs, he gets a click or "Yes" and then can lick out the treat from between the fingers or she can just open her fingers and let the treat fall to the ground.
This step is repeated 10-15 times. , When the dog sniffs/touches your hand, he is clicked and treated BUT now the treat comes from the other non-target hand.
If the dog is confidently reaching out to touch your hand, then start moving the hand a little so his nose has to follow it before the click/treat.
This step is repeated until the dog can follow your hand around the building in all directions.
Before moving to #4 the dog should be able to "touch" repeatedly before the click/treat.
The "touch" to your hand should be a nice strong push, not just a soft touch. , A chair works great for this step.
For some dogs you may need to help them at first by going back to putting a treat between your fingers.
Rub the treat on the surface of the chair and lead the dog's nose to chair with your smelly target hand.
Click when his nose touches the chair.
When the dog gets the idea of touching the new object with his nose you can begin to work on sending him from greater and greater distances.
Once the dog becomes "hooked" on touching his nose to the target it's time to take it on the road. , This stranger needs to be careful not to make any eye contact and to be relaxed, sideways to the dog, and maybe even to yawn! Have the stranger sit in the chair with its hand down by one side with the palm outwards.
The yummy treat is squished between two fingers, but is easy for the dog to lick out.
Don't click when the dog takes a treat.
Just let him make his own approach, replace each treat until he has taken a treat from the stranger 10 times. , You should be standing still just looking and calmly talking to the stranger.
Wait for the dog to "touch" the stranger's now empty palm.
Click/treat for the touch.
As soon as the dog finishes his treat, ask for "touch".
If the dog goes to the stranger's palm, click and a big jackpot would be well deserved.
Build on targeting stranger's hands
- changing posture, location, gender, etc.
Targeting a hand make contacting strangers a comfortable behavior providing us with a positive way to reward social interaction. , Start someplace safe, then go on walks.
Have other volunteers come up and have your dog target their hand.
Remember, when you're first training in a new environment you may need to go back to the first step for a while until your dog can perform the behavior reliably.
Never be afraid to back up! Fearful dogs have a much harder time becoming operant.
Much of the environment is aversive to them which is why developing a reward for touching through targeting the hand gives you a way to move them around the environment and feel safe and reinforced.
Don't expect too much too soon.
About the Author
Diane Howard
Committed to making home improvement accessible and understandable for everyone.
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