Recall
Level 1: Introduce Recall
Using a Hand Target

You will learn:

• Shaping​​
• Cueing
  
• Reinforcement
  

Your dog will learn:

• Targeting​
• Offering Behavior
  
• ​Responding to a Cue
  

The goal of this exercise is to begin to develop a strong recall based on hand targeting.

uses for this behavior

• Recall Levels 2–4
• Focus in distracting situations
• New behaviors started wit targeting

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tips for success

• Pick a consistent hand position that will be the visual cue for this behavior
  
• A flat palm facing the dog and held beside the thigh is a common cue

Make it a game!

• Practice left and right touches, alternating hands, and varying the number of touches before the click and treat.
• Work off-leash at home, tossing the treat farther away at varying distances, so the dog is moving a greater distance when cued to touch your hand.
  
  

Training Steps:

Step 1:
Begin by shaping the dog to touch your hand. Click, then treat to the dog's mouth.

Click Points

• ​​Look at your hand.
• Nose touch your hand.

Tag Points

• Target hand still.
• Treat to mouth.

Step 2:
When the dog is reliably touching your hand, introduce a verbal cue and drop the treats on the floor after each click to reset the dog.

Click Points

• Nose touch your hand.

Tag Points

• Drop treat to reset.
• Before you put out your hand, the tag point is: Say "Touch".

Step 3:
Begin to toss treats a short distance away (within the limits of a leash length) so that the dog is moving back toward the target for the next touch.

Click Points

• Nose touch your hand.

Tag Points

• Drop treat to reset.
• Before you put out your hand, the tag point is: Say "Touch".

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