Teaching Touch Verbal Cue

Age appropriate: You can start teaching this verbal cue after the pup is savvy with the marker word "Nice". By the time the pup is 5 months old they should understand and fulfill this verbal cue completely.

Purpose: Touch is a cue that teaches the pup about food reward, can redirect their attention, create a quiet, engaging playtime in public, overcome fears or stress, and is a foundation skill for learning.

Objective: When given the verbal cue Touch with the presence of your closed fist the puppy should touch your fist with their nose.

Procedure:

Week 1 of Touch

This cue should only be taught after the marker word Nice has been introduced.
You will introduce the verbal cue with the puppy on leash. You can start by sitting on the ground with them or sitting in a chair in a quiet, distraction free environment.
Place your fist no more than 1-2 inches in front of your puppy’s nose. Their curiosity will get the best of them and they will in some way touch your fist by sniffing, mouthing, or nibbling on your hand. At this stage any behavior is acceptable.
As soon as the pup makes contact with your fist use the marker word Nice and deliver their food reward to them. Do not say the word Touch before or after they make contact with your fist. We want the puppy to learn the behavior before naming the cue.
Hold your fist out again 1-2 inches away and wait for the pup to touch your fist for their marker word and food reward.
Note: do not lure, pull, or drag the puppy towards your fist. If they get distracted or don’t understand you should better set them up for success. Try a less distracting environment, putting your fist closer to the pup’s nose, or trying again later.
Continue practicing placing your fist near the pup’s nose and rewarding with your marker word Nice and food reward.
Practice this task 1-3 times a day in short sessions, 5 minutes or less with varying distances no more than about 6 inches away from their nose.

Week 2 of Touch

Continue practicing 1-3 times a day in short sessions with the pup on leash.
You should still use marker word Nice and food reward every time the pup touches your fist.
Start moving farther away, no more than two feet in the same quiet environment.
Practice the task in different rooms of your home or other less stimulating or familiar environments. Always take a step back in your expectations and move your fist closer, no more than 6 inches, to the pup’s nose when you move to a different environment.
The puppy should be eager to play this game without nipping, biting at, or mouthing at your hands. If the pup is getting mouthy end the game and give the pup a toy to chew on instead.

Weeks 3 of Touch

Continue practicing 1-3 times a day in short sessions with your pup off leash in quiet environments.
You should still use marker word Nice and food reward every time the pup touches your fist.
Practice varying distances from the pup moving no more than three feet away.
Vary what fist you are using and your position.
Pup should be enthusiastic without mouthing or biting your fist. If they start biting, nipping, or mouthing you can give a firm no and not reward the behavior with marking with Nice or food reward.

Week 4 of Touch

Introduce this skill in public 1-3 times daily during socialization, walks, and outings.
You should still use marker word Nice and food reward every time the pup touches your fist and you can use a higher value reward if necessary for keeping your pup focused in a more stimulating environment.
Always take a step back in your expectations and move your fist closer, no more than 6 inches, to the pup’s nose when you move to a different environment.
The pup should be enthusiastic and excited about touching your fist and having fun!

Week 5 of Touch

Introduce the word Touch for the behavior
Move back to a quiet environment at home with your pup on leash.
Sit in a chair with the pup next to you.
Place your fist about 6 inches away from the pup’s nose
As the pup is moving towards your fist say Touch.
When the pup touches your fist use marker word Nice and deliver the food reward.
Continue these practice sessions 1-3 every day to teach the pup Touch means to touch your fist with their nose without mouthing, biting, or nipping.

Weeks 6 of Touch

Continue practicing Touch cue in the home with the marker word Nice and food delivery for completion of the task.
Start practicing in higher stimulation environments like malls, parks with distractions, and puppy classes.

Application of Touch

This verbal cue is an excellent way to practice food reward for you and the pup. It will help strengthen the association between the marker word Nice and food delivery. It’s also a good time for you to practice delivering the food at your left knee to create muscle memory for you too!
You can use this to help a pup overcome a fear or stressor. If you have a fun, positive way to engage with the pup it will make learning and coping easier for the pup.
- Example: A pup is unsure and scared about a new, shiny surface and doesn't want to walk on it you. You can hold your fist nose level to your pup several inches over the new surface. Your pup should reach out to touch your fist. Even if they stretch their neck out without moving forward still reward it! Practice a couple times several inches over the new surface and keep increasing the distance the pup has to walk to touch your fist. Then, you can continue walking with the pup or pick them up after they made the effort to overcome the fear and try again later.
- Example: A pup turns the corner and is startled by a life-size animal statue. They drop their tail, don't want to continue walking, and back up a few steps from the statue. You can lengthen your leash, approach the statue, and hold your fist out near the statue. The pup can continue approaching playing this game and learn that the statue is okay and become familiar with it.
You can use touch to redirect the pup’s attention. If the pup is focused or distracted you should say the cue Touch, put your fist close the pup’s nose, and use the marker word Nice with food delivery. You can continue this exercise to refocus and keep your pup engaged.
You can play a game when your pup needs an energy outlet by varying the distance of your fist to the pup, what fist you are using, and position you want the pup in.
- Example: Smudge sitting through several meetings so her puppy raiser will play the game with Touch varying her fist distance from Smudge while keeping Smudge in a stay under the table. Smudge is engaged and being rewarded with this game for sitting quietly through the meetings.