Teaching "touch" Or Targetting

[Jemmy]

I've just started this with my 8 month old pup, she is already clicker trained so have been working on it with the aid of the clicker. The method I am following said to put your hand palm first right in front of their nose, and then when/if she touches my hand, to click and treat. Then move on to slightly to the side, further away, and then add the verbal command.

My query is: sometimes instead of touching my hand with her nose, she gives my palm a lick instead! Should I be clicking and treating this as it's still contact, or should I ignore it until she bumps with her nose?

Edited for typo

Edited October 19, 2014 by Jemmy

[raineth]

only click when she touches your hand with her nose :)

[Jemmy]

Thank you!

[sheena]

Yes...only when she touches your hand with her nose & only put a Q on it when she is doing it reliably, then you can fade out the clicker. Use that to shape something else, which might be to lick your hand, which you would then put on Q. :)

[Nekhbet]

Remember what you mark is what you want to keep. That is the point of marking a behavior, to signal to the dog what memory to form. It can work for you ... or against you ;) We even have our horse doing it as it's such a good exercise for a lot of animals.