Senior Dog Comfort & Care

One of the most useful training skills is also one of the easiest! Teach your dog how to touch their nose to your hand. This gives you a perfect way to move them around at the vet’s office or groomer or guide them around an obstacle without force. It also works as a wonderful hand signal for calling them to come.

Grab your training treats and be ready to use your marker word “Yes!”

Hold your open palm (or two fingers) a few inches from their nose as a target. Most dogs will naturally want to sniff an outstretched hand.

When your dog’s nose touches your hand target, say “yes!” and give them a treat. Repeat!

As your dog starts to understand the game, you can add in the verbal cue “Touch” just before you present your hand target.

With practice, you can start to hold your hand a bit further away, so they have to move to boop it. Switch hands and practice in a variety of places. BOOP. It’s that simple.