WEEK 18
Targeting and It's Benefits
Small Behavior, Big Wins: Why Teaching Your Dog to Target is Pure Magic
If I could only teach a dog one trick for fun and function—it might just be targeting.
Why? Because targeting (like teaching your dog to touch their nose to your hand or place their paws somewhere specific) is one of the most useful, empowering, and joyfully fun behaviors in your training toolbox.
It builds confidence, encourages teamwork, and helps you and your dog navigate the world together—with more ease and trust.
What Is Targeting?
Targeting means teaching your dog to touch a specific body part (usually their nose or paws) to a specific object (like your hand, a mat, or even your lap).
The most common target is a nose-to-hand touch: your open palm becomes the target, and your dog learns that booping it with their nose earns a reward.
It’s simple. It’s playful. And it opens the door to so many real-life wins.
Why Targeting Rocks!
Here are just a few ways targeting can make life easier—for both you and your dog:
Move From Point A to Point B
Need to help your dog step into the tub, hop into the car, or walk onto a ramp? Instead of coaxing or lifting, your dog can follow your hand with confidence.
Example: I once worked with a senior dog learning to use a ramp. Instead of pushing or pleading, we used a hand target to guide her step-by-step. It turned a stressful moment into a game she could win.
Empower Consent & Handling
A training triumph I cherish:
I worked with a client whose little dog had developed a fear of being handled and would nip defensively, stemming from a distressing grooming incident. The dog particularly disliked being lifted. Rather than forcing the dog, we taught him to touch his nose to his dad's outstretched palm, then jump onto his lap. From that point, only with the dog's clear permission, the dad could lift him when necessary.
If he chose not to target, we respected that. With practice, he started saying yes more often—and that simple targeting behavior built trust, confidence, and a clear communication loop between them.
Add Play to Recalls
Want a fun and effective way to build recall?
Start with a nose target nearby, then gradually add distance. Now your dog gets to chase your hand like a moving reward target—and come when called without it feeling like a chore.
Greet on Cue: “Go Say Hi”
Taken from Emma Parsons’ Click to Calm, “Go Say Hi” is a brilliant use of targeting for shy or sensitive dogs.
Here’s how it works:
- You teach your dog a hand target at home first.
- Then, in real life, when someone wants to say hi, you cue: “Go Say Hi.”
- The stranger holds out an open palm (no treats, no petting, no pressure).
- If your dog feels safe and interested, they can boop the hand, then return to you for their reward.
- If they don’t want to? You simply say, “Looks like she doesn't want to say hi right now, thanks for asking.”
This gives your dog choice, builds social confidence, and helps the human world feel safer and more predictable.
SAFTY NOTE: If your dog has any history of aggression towards strangers, please seek the help of a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) before attempting any dog-human greetings.
Bonus Benefit: It can bring FUN & FUNCTION to Vet Visits!
Above is a photo of Rory at the wonderful Maui Lani Veterinary Clinic. Notice his relaxed, goofy expression? Historically, vet visits haven’t been his favorite. While we’re still fine-tuning our exam protocols, he’s now happy to go for fun vet trips where we practice targeting games:
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Targeting his bottom to the scale
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Nose targeting chairs and bags of food
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Chin targeting my hand for our practice 'exam checks'
He gets to play, snack, and leave without any pokes! These positive, pressure-free visits help build more comfort and confidence for future vet care.
Final Thoughts
Targeting may look like a party trick, but it’s so much more. It’s communication. It’s consent. It’s teamwork.
And once your dog learns it, you'll find yourself reaching for it again and again—for play, for training, and for navigating life together with more connection and joy.
💬 Got a targeting success story of your own? I’d love to hear it—DM me and share how it’s helping you and your pup work as a team.