Targeting is a training tool whereby the trainer manipulates a dog into position by asking the dog to touch an object of some kind. The dog can be trained to touch the object either with his nose or a paw. I guess in actuality, a dog could target with any part of his body. However, I’ve only trained targeting with a nose or a paw. Some applications for targeting work better with a nose. Other applications work best with a paw. For the exercises taught in this book, we’re only going to be training our puppies to target with their noses.
Targeting is an intermediate step between luring and shaping. It provides a bridge between a dog following a piece of food as in luring and his offering a behavior without an aide or a crutch as in shaping. The dog is doing more than simply following food because he is actually offering a behavior [Following food is also offering a behavior.
The dog is just following the target not offering a behavior so it really isn’t like shaping at all. It is less likely to cause the dog to become too food focused but it is a form of luring.
Jenna, I think it is an offered behavior because he touches the hand. He is offering behavior in response to the cue of an outstretched hand. It doesn’t matter that there is food in it. Let’s discuss.](touching something). He is doing less than shaping because the behavior is prompted by an aide. This offering of behavior with the aide of a target often makes a very nice step in between luring and shaping.
