Clicker Teaching Touch With Paw

[ruthless]

I've asked another DOLer to teach me some basic agility with Chopper. I taught him a few things with the clicker in the early days, he gets it. I've been advised to teach him to touch with his paw before we go on the equipment. I have a few clicker books at home, but I've been told they prob teach touch with the nose. Does anyone have any pointers on how to teach touch with the paw?

Do I need one of these?

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?s=&a...t&p=2759755

[Kavik]

Do you want touch paw to hand or touch paw to something like a board?

For touch a board, I've used paper or cardboard on the ground and paw target, so click when they get near it, gradually narrow your criteria til your dog is standing on the board.

[ruthless]

I want touch object. I think the idea was to use it to slow the dog down at the end of certain pieces of equipment. See saw, A frame, etc. so he doesn't just jump off.

[Kavik]

Like this?

I started off using a clicker, all paws on the board, then three on the board, then front on ground, rear on board. Then I made it a ramp. Recently I have started using a toy and word marker instead of clicker and food to increase speed of response and because I can use my voice on the course and not a clicker

[ruthless]

Just like that!

Thanks!

[helen]

most people use a nose touch on a target at the end of a contact obstacle

edited to add - I think the theory is that it is less stress on the dog's back etc if its head is low

Edited June 16, 2008 by helen