How to Teach Dogs to Follow a Finger Point (using a target stick)

Wouldn't it be great if your dog could follow your hand to find his dropped or fallen treats, retrieve unseen distant objects, and select between objects etc?

While most dogs learn this skill on their own as you train other behaviors, why not make it as easy as possible for your dog to succeed and teach this on its own? It's a fun mind game to teach on rainy or cold days or dogs that are laid up due to surgery. You can use toys and other small objects instead of food. It's a great skill for goofy dogs that can't focus too!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• service
• dog
• training
• follow
• finger
• point
• goofy
• dogs
• dufus
• rainy
• day
• mind
• games
• target
• stick

[stevenjsandberg]

hi you are great .can you do a video of dog retriving a child with autism i want to teach this to my dog but dont know how ,as you can tell i have a child with autism that runs away always can you help me with this i will be so appresiated

[supernaturalbc2008]

@stevenjsandberg So far I haven't been asked to do this by a client, nor do I have access to a child. The exact behavior you need would have to be thought out and then I could figure out a training plan for the dog. Are you thinking that this would be a behavior the dog does on her own or a cued behavior. I know that most autism dogs are tethered to their child outdoors to prevent wandering. Donna

[1949pink]

Your videos have made a big difference in my life! Thank you! :-)

[supernaturalbc2008]

@1949pink You are very welcome! I am happy they have!

[nerdaterp]

can you caption this one, too please? It would be very helpful. Thanks.

[supernaturalbc2008]

@nerdaterp CC done! VBG!

[stevenjsandberg]

i think it would be a cue behavior ,whe she sees my son running she would get in front of him or get hold of his arm or shirt same would be if child tried to cross the street the dog should block the child from crossing. maria

[kikopup]

that was cool! :) I always taught that by tossing a treat with a pointed finger pointing as I tossed! This is a very creative way of teaching the behavior. very cool!

[supernaturalbc2009]

@Hickster1983 Try teaching your dog 'food zen' which tells her that the food is hers when you cue it or after a click.. Look at Sue Ailsby's Training Levels 1 Zen for a description.

[Hickster1983]

How did you get your dog to only go for the treat once the command was said. I don't know if it is a command or calling the dogs name. We have a Redbone Coonhound and the stay command is just not working too well.

[newbear95]

Great tutorial! I will try this with my dog! :)