Category: Advanced Stuff, Performance Events ¤
  Author: Sue Ailsby ¤
   Title: Paw Targetting ¤

"I have been trying to teach the lads to target
with a paw (they can target with their noses OK)"

Then you're 3/4 of the way to paw-targetting!  There are several problems
that are helping you get stuck - first, the dog has no idea what you're
talking about.  Second, the dog is trying to nose-target, and the
nose-targetting idea is getting in the way of the paw-targetting.  How *I*
overcame the problems was to first do a couple of nose-to-hand touches (or
nose-to-targetstick, or nose-to-margarine-tub-lid, or whatever, but for
the sake of example, I used my hand, and that's what I'll talk about).
Now the dog is secure and knows what you want.  Now set up something like
a chair or a stool or a cement block - something the dog can put its paws
up on to reach something higher.  Gradually move your target over the
stool until the dog has to put his front paws on the stool to reach your
hand with his nose - and click/treat the second his PAW touches the stool.
Do this a few more times until the dog shows signs that he realizes you're
only asking for the paw to touch the stool rather than still expecting the
nose to touch the hand after the paw touches the stool.  Once he's got
that, you can start fading the hand, pull it out of the way as he's
starting his approach to the stool, then just gesture at the stool.  Once
he's solid on touching the stool and not actually reaching for your hand,
you can switch to a chair or the couch (there's that ol' couch again ;-D )
or a stair or a curb - anything you can still put your hand over and ask
for a nose-touch again if he starts to slip.  With a Giant Schnauzer, I
originally taught this using the meat freezer in the dog room and the
grooming table and a chair.  When he knows about all those things, you can
try making the gesture and voice cue at a wall, and chances are you'll get
the result you want.  I had the MOST fun one day when Song knew about
touching walls and doors.  I have a pipe about 4" wide going from floor to
ceiling in my training building.  I asked her to touch the pipe.  It took
her a second to figure out how to put one paw on top of the other so she
could target the pipe with both front feet, and then it was her favourite
target and she'd v-e-r-y carefully place one foot above the other.

Sue eh?