Teach Them to Touch a Target
For all of these tricks, you have to first get your dog touching his nose to something other than your hand. Sticky notes are easy and a popular choice due to their versatility (later, you can put them almost anywhere).
Step 1. Put a sticky note in your hand and hold it out in front of your dog, like you would for a Touch, but don’t say the cue. It’s easiest if you start by holding it in the palm of your hand, so it looks like the Touch he is already familiar with – praise and reward him when he touches the sticky note ONLY.
Step 2. Slowly fade your hand away so your dog is just targeting the sticky note. If you would like, you can name this something different – like “target” or “nose” so your dog distinguishes the difference between come and touch my hand and go touch a target. But it’s not necessary.
Step 3. Once your dog is consistently touching the sticky note , put it on the wall or floor and see if your dog will target it when you say your cue (if you are using touch, you will have to point to it or somehow indicate to your dog that you do not mean your hand this time).
Keep practicing until your dog will touch the sticky note no matter where you put it.
Now you are ready to teach some tricks!
Shut Doors or Drawers
This fun trick allows your dog to help you with chores such as putting away laundry or dishes. And it’s super easy.
Step 1. All you have to do is put your sticky note on an open door (just make sure it’s not so heavy your dog can’t move it). Wait and only reward nose touches where your dog moves the door.
Step 2. Most likely, your dog will hit it softly at first. If you selectively reward only when he makes the door move, he will start pushing harder until he shuts it all the way – big party! At this stage it may take him several pushes before he actually shuts the door.
Step 3. Repeat, gradually upping how hard/long he has to push before you give a reward, until he is shutting the door in one touch.
Step 4. You can put this on cue by calling it “push” or “door” for example as your dog does the behavior.
Step 5. Fade the sticky note (unless you want your house covered in post-its) by pointing at the door (not the note) before saying the cue. This way your dog learns to shut whatever you are pointing at.
Now your dog I ready to shut your dresser drawers or kitchen cupboards.
Related: 10 Best Dog Doors
Turning Lights On/off
Put simply, you are going to teach your dog to flip the light switch on and off using “touch” as a base.
Turn the Light on
Step 1. Put the sticky note right below the switch, so that the note is half on it, have off it. Give your cue. If your dog flips on the lights, reward him! If he doesn’t, do not say anything. It may take your dog a moment or two, but if he is used to offering behaviors, he will eventually hit his nose on that switch and make the lights turn on – big party when that happens!
Note: some dogs end up using their teeth (like the greyhound in the below video) to help them when they realize what you want. It’s up to you if you are okay with that or not. If you are not, just don’t reward them when they use their teeth.
Step 2. After several successful attempts, starting adding a new cue “on” for example.
Step 3. Finally, you will fade the sticky note.
Turn the light Off
Step 1. Do the same thing as above except put the sticky note a bit above the switch. Most likely, it will be flipped after your dog has “touched” the note and is on his way back down. Timing will be everything with this one – make sure you mark it when he flips that switch, and not just when he touches the note.
Step 2. After several successful attempts, starting adding a new cue “off” for example.
Step 3. Finally, you will fade the sticky note.
What else have you taught your dog to do with his touch command?
About the Author
Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and a member of the Dog Writers Association of America. She is the founder of A Fairytail House. In her spare time, she trains and competes in a variety of performance events with her Shetland Sheepdogs and caters to her two rescue kitties. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles.
Toledo, United States.
