What is a “Touch Stick”?  It is a tool I have added to my training basket that allows me to move a dog around without having to have very long arms.  I’m sure most of you have never used a touch stick.  The first time I learned how to use one was in Search and Rescue with Merlot.  We were at a training seminar for Human Remains Detection (HRD).  It is important for a HRD dog to not disturb a crime scene.  You teach them to pinpoint with their nose exactly where they smell the remains.  To do this, you must first teach them how to touch something with their nose.  We were all given a clicker, a stick, and told to be happy that we were learning on our dogs, because the instructor learned how to clicker train CHICKENS!

I’ve since used this method to teach my dogs to ask for things like they want.  First I teach them ‘touch’, then later if they come up and want something I can ask them to ‘touch it’ so I can get an idea of exactly what it is.  Also, this is a GREAT way to teach them to get up and move their body.  You can have them follow the touch stick and teach “SPIN”, “SIT UP”, “STAND UP on HIND LEGS” “WALK ON HIND LEGS” “BITE YOUR TAIL”, etc.  The list is endless on moving commands.  It allows you to have a bit more reach.  In a sense, it becomes a lure for body position.

This video is 10 minutes long.  The reason it is so very long is because I wanted you to see exactly how much time it took to train Lincoln from start to moving and following the stick like a lure.  At this point I stopped training and let him sleep on it.  Flash was the dog who really made it clear to me that letting a dog think on something for a few hours or over night makes a HUGE difference in understanding.

TRAINING VIDEO: TOUCH STICK with Lincoln – 4.5 months old