Teaching Your Agility Dog to Target

We often talk about how consistency is the key to success in your agility training more than style or cue.

This is a super example of how Eliska Dolnickova teaches her dogs to mark a target early in training.

You see she is not rewarding on a single touch to the target, but rather a hold on the target.

Her dog, Jay, offers a simple touch or look, but that is not Elska’s desired response so Jay keeps trying.

As soon as Jay holds the target, and it looks like she wants Jay to lock gaze on it, she treats Jay.

This is why you need to know exactly what you are looking for from your dog and remain consistent in your rewards. You may be looking for a variation to a cue, but your dog is the only one whose opinion counts. Know your cue, response desired, and reward consistently.