Using Feet for target

C

Crouton

Forums Regular
When we do target if I practice using my hand she'll touch her nose to it, but when I throw the target for her to touch on the ground she'll just touch it with her foot. Is this ok? Or should I insist that she targets with her nose?
 
It depends on how hard you want her to slam her front end into the ground, but I don't teach contacts, so I'm probably the wrong person to answer. :smile2:
 
The best contact criteria you can get is for your dog to keep their head down as they come over the equipment. This keeps them driving forward, and even limits the chance that they'll jump at the end.

I would insist that Crouton touch with her nose.

You can start teaching that by putting a treat on the target and telling her touch. Since she'll go for the treat, she'll automatically "touch". Start moving the target just slightly away, getting her excited, and sending her to it. She'll again automatically do a nose touch to get the treat. The best thing you can do is keep her excited about it. If she starts to lose interest, the target is too far away, or the treat isn't exciting enough.
 
it's true.. I agree with Ashley.... if you don't insist on it now, and you're going to do agility.... trying to retraining later realllllly SUCKS *aka me*
 
I agree, it's just she knows that she needs to use her nose, she just got lazy and it evolved into the foot, and I kinda of let her too. I have started insisting and she's going back to nose again. Those clever Shelties are always looking for a shortcut. Thanks so much for your help!
 
Crouton said:
I agree, it's just she knows that she needs to use her nose, she just got lazy and it evolved into the foot, and I kinda of let her too. I have started insisting and she's going back to nose again. Those clever Shelties are always looking for a shortcut. Thanks so much for your help!
Click to expand...

Whenever I start with a new target (i.e. last night I went from a 4" diameter plastic over to a 1" diameter plastic thing), I usually hold it in my hand for Koji to see, then tell him to touch my hand, with the target. So he's tapping the target.

Maybe do that a few times with Crouton. Lower it, lower it, lower it, put it on the ground. Since we know she's too smart for us, she'll figure it out within 10 clicks. ;) It's time to use your nose again Crouton.
 
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