Paw Targeting – how to teach tricks dog training clicker training


This video is a how to video on how to teach your dog to target an object with his front paws. This is not only a great game to teach your puppy or dog how to learn to learn, but it is the foundation for many behaviors and tricks. Tricks with this foundation include- wave, shake , high five, standing up, hands up, close the door, cop cop, say your prayers, descrimination, freestyle foot work and more. Check out zsianz1 ‘s video on how to teach a high five using this technique! www.youtube.com Take care with large breed dogs or dogs who have sharp toe nails as you can get slapped. Perhaps teach shake down the line when you have more experience as a trainer so that your large dog doesnt learn to paw at you as their favorite behavior. The great thing about the technique that I am using is that the dog isnt learning to paw at your skin, but at an object, so you can get that on stimulus control before it is just your arm (for very large and powerful dog breeds). You can also click them fore being gentle before you switch to using just your hand for shake.

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Aug 15, 2010 | 25 | Obedience Training For Dogs

25 Responses to “Paw Targeting – how to teach tricks dog training clicker training”

  1. BlakeTheBullie Says:

    I have a Bulldog that loves to use his mouth/teeth way too much and when he can’t get the treat because he’s not using his paw he will start to chew on it with my fingers in the way. Is this kind of training going to have to wait until the future or is there a way around this? Also, he sometimes scratches at it rather than taps it. I don’t know if I should be clicking this just because he’s actually using his paws rather than his face but I don’t want to be teaching him to scratch either lol

  2. itsmeEstefania Says:

    this are great videos!! i love how you show the process clean and with an untrained dog, a lot of other videos use dog that are already trained. keep making videos!!

  3. ninjakittyinmypants Says:

    @Civicblabla The reason you use a clicker is because its a very distinct noise and there is nothing else like it, plus a click is insanely quick. Think how much slower it is when you clap your hands. You want to mark the exact action the dog doesi. Another way to mark it would be to use a word like “yes!” or “good!”. Again though, it is not as quick or precise as a clicker.

  4. Civicblabla Says:

    Do i have to have a “clicker” or cant i just clap my hands or some other clicking noise?????

  5. NormyPie Says:

    @NormyPie Pup has arrived and we’ve started paw targeting yesterday. He’s a real nose dog so we got that straight away – the paw one is taking a bit longer!

  6. famouslauren Says:

    My dog learned this really quick too! My husband was amazed!

  7. NormyPie Says:

    @uwilh8me Yay! That’s what I want to do!

  8. NormyPie Says:

    @NormyPie oops Normy – you pressed ‘Post’ too soon – read the other comments first!

  9. NormyPie Says:

    Fab – I want to train my pup (when I get him) to use a push button bell and was wondering how I could do it. So is this pup a new addition to your family?

  10. swanbackjacks Says:

    Excellent timing…. Thanks!

  11. elisahafdis Says:

    you are an amazing trainer :)

  12. TipsyTurvy17 Says:

    Yippi; I used this tutorial to teach paw and then progressed to Shake and High five on the second session. Tipsy loved it. She has been so mouthy that I think it was an amazing surprise for her to use her paws.

  13. uwilh8me Says:

    this paw targeting i use it to get my yorkie to ring a bell on the doorknob to tell me he has to pottie

  14. kikopup Says:

    That is too funny!

  15. puurrrrr Says:

    Oh, thank you very much!

  16. SkaT50 Says:

    For puurrrrr: To the right of the video window there is a text window written by kikopup. Click on “more info” and read why Paw Targeting is useful.

  17. puurrrrr Says:

    I’ve seen videos like this before, but I still don’t really understand paw targeting.

    Is this in preparation for other tricks? What sorts of tricks will training this help with?

  18. DogsAreMyBestFriends Says:

    OMG, Tug is incredibly cute! Ahh!
    Great work, and great tutorial!
    Very well made!
    Can’t wait to see more of Tug!
    5*s!

  19. kikopup Says:

    You should still make it! as people might not know how to progress. Even if you made a targeting video, the more the better, especially when people SEE that it works with ALL dogs not just one. :)

  20. kikopup Says:

    hey! :) His name is Tug. You did such a great job teaching him to only chew on his toys! Puppy training is a breeze with him. Hes the perfect match for my Chi- he is so gentle with her! More tutorials on the way, Tug has learned a ton of things! (I’ve had the flu at the moment so will get back to editing soon!) Email me at my real email rather than the youtube one as it gets so full I can’t look through it all.

  21. ithnkiluvyou Says:

    Hey emily it’s hannah. His foster mom i cant believe how well he is doing im so glad you took him home he couldnt have a better home!! cant wait to see more of you guys.. BTW what did you name him?

  22. kynagon Says:

    hi from Thessaloniki – Greece….!!! Excellent training!!

  23. oblio777 Says:

    Excellent job! Smart dog, very good trainer!
    Greetings from Romania.

  24. natalie4cuti Says:

    MamereClaire i think you meant mut? hahaha and good job with the training, Emily!!

  25. stefrobrts Says:

    Thanks! I tried this and in five minutes he was scooting across the floor to put his paw on it! This is so much fun for the dog too :) My favorite part was when he was ‘down’ and putting his paw on it, and I scooted it a little out of his reach, thinking he would get up to paw it, and instead he reached over and grabbed it with his mouth, dragged it back, then slapped a paw on it and looked up at me like ‘how’d you like that?’! I just LOLd! He’s so lazy!

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