[PeggyTheParti]

November already?! Happy third month of Trick Club!

This month we're going back to basics with a super useful trick from the AKC Novice List: Touch It (hand or target stick)

This isn't just a fun foundation for future tricks; it's an excellent tool for building a great recall in any environment. Just reach out a hand and your poodle will come running!

Here's a basic guide to get you started: How to Teach a Dog to Touch: Target Training Dogs

And here's a good video:

Note: You may find it beneficial to use one hand as the target and the other hand to deliver the food reward.

For those of you who've already nailed this trick, tell us how you did it and then set a goal to apply it in a new way. Maybe you'd like your poodle to ring a bell? Or roll a soccer ball? Or close the door for you when you're already cozy in bed? So many possibilities....

As always, please share your progress. (We love pics and video!) And be sure to share any setbacks, too. We can all learn from each other.

If you're just finding out about Trick Club now, check out Trick Club: September and Trick Club: October. And imagine how nice it'll be to have a whole year of tricks under your belt...and your poodle's belt, too!

Happy training

Robin & Peggy

 

[PeggyTheParti]

Oh boy. We've been really slacking this month, and I suspect December might be even worse.

But we've made some progress on my personal goal, which is actually to undo some of Peggy's "touch" training. She learned this particular command in puppy class, at about 12 weeks old, so it's solid. Maybe too solid. Lol. If she sees an outstretched hand, she's gonna boop it! Which means when someone innocently gestures while talking (or even worse, holds their hand above their head) helloooo, flying poodle!

So I've been practising raising my hand, then releasing a treat when her bum hits the floor. Eventually I want any raised hand—but especially above the head—to be an automatic cue to sit, while only an open palm at hip level or lower should mean touch.

I think this will cut down on airborne poodles.