If a dog has been taught the names of each part of his body, we can teach him to understand how to move and control that body part when a new behavior is initiated by the teacher.
Body Targets
One of the first things most trainers do before teaching their dog a new action/behavior/movement is to break down each part of the ABM into its components so they thoroughly understand everything involved in its training. Additionally, if the trainer has a plan for the lifetime of that dog, it makes every element of the dog's training more concise. I had already compiled an extensive list of behaviors I wanted to teach my dogs during their lifetime, but it had never occured to me to teach them their different body parts to facilitate their understanding of what I wanted them to learn. I went through my "to-train" list and decided which body parts my dogs would need to know in order for me to better explain each behavior to them. I decided on the following:
Anything I want to teach my dogs can be taught by using other methods. However, I have found that unlike other training methods, using bridges and targets allows me to explain moves and behaviors to my dogs more quickly and more fully in a conversational way and with what seems to be a greater understanding on their part. This is, of course, after the dog is experienced in using his body parts to form behaviors and is familiar with the bridges.
Since each body part is basically taught using the same principal, I will use the hip target to explain how I taught my dogs body targets.
The hip target was the first actual body part I taught my dogs using the concept of body targets. The reason I didn't start with the easier targets -- nose, chin, and feet -- is because I had already taught the dogs to recognize cues for these before I learned about body targeting.
Teaching "hip"
Moving Syd closer to the sock-um toy by targeting her hip with a target stick.
1. Nose
2. Chin
3. Teeth
4. Mouth
5. Head (top of)
11. Chest (front)
12. Hips
13. Fanny (under tail)
14. Rump (above tail)
15. Tail
Target stick touches Jyah's right hip and his hip follows the stick -- backing all the way around my body.
My interest in which body parts to teach my dogs may be more (or less) extensive than that of someone else. If a person wanted to be able to balance his checkbook, he would need to know arithmetic and maybe how to use a calculator. This person would probably not have the desire to learn calculus. However, a person wishing to build engineering structures would need to know advanced mathematics, finite element modeling, etc. Likewise, someone with the goal of having a well-mannered dog would probably not want to teach their dog as many body parts as someone whose goal was to teach their dog a myriad of complex and linked moves. Also, there are people who may simply wish to name body parts without using them as a teaching tool -- just as they might conversationally name everything in the dog's environment.
I had already taught and named the dogs' nose and feet before learning about body targeting, so I began by teaching the 'hip' target first. I found that teaching the trunk body parts took longer because trunk parts are more difficult to engage as separate components. Once the dogs got the concept of moving a body part to my hand, they quickly realized what the idea was -- isolate and move that body part "towards." However, I found that while the dogs got the concept of moving a body part to a target fairly quickly, it took time and experience for all the neurological pathways to form in the right place for the moves to become automatic.
Sydney targets her feet on mine as I walk or dance.
At this point, I began using a 36" dowel pin (instead of my fingers) as a target for many of the behaviors I plan on teaching my dogs. I also started having them target known body parts to other targets, i.e. a wall, another dog, another part of their own body, etc. Once the dogs get the concept of moving body parts to a target, I began having them hold a body part on a target using the intermediate bridge to keep it there. The intermediate bridge is used in the learning stages and does not need to be applied once the dog knows that particular behavior. Although, I sometimes use it as a reminder and also, sometimes as a secondary reinforcer when I see the dog needs a bit of guidance.
When she is in position, I target her stifle to lift in a boy-dog marking position.
I "freeze" her in position with an intermediate bridge.
Jyah targets mouth to cup - -
Body targets are concepts, and by teaching (naming) the parts you cease to have breakdowns in training because you can go in, name the part that needs fixing and re-work it."
Using an intermediate bridge, whether teaching a new movement or fixing an old one, gives the dog feedback at every step of the way. Coming from 'clicker' training, where we were told that the click was all the information the dog needed, fully utilizing the intermediate bridge has been challenging for me to incorporate in my training. I have much yet to learn and to integrate about the teaching with bridges and targets -- but I am eagerly looking forward to expanding our horizons.
Sydney targets Jyah's nose with her foot.
and his eyes target my hand.
Finished trick: "Take a drink."
Left: Using target stick to ask dogs to target each other's feet.
Right: Shaking hands -- held with an intermediate bridge.
Left: I'm asking Sydney to target my fingers at her hip while having her target her other hip to my knee.
Right: I've transfered Sydney's nose to her own left hip (target) and am asking her to hold it there by using the intermediate bridge.
ONE OF THE MOST fascinating facets to me about target training is teaching my dogs their body parts. If a dog knows the different parts of his body (can move that body part towards a target or hold it on a target when asked), he can work on movement through understanding rather than through guesswork. Teaching a dog its various body parts may seem slow at first, but it's like teaching a child the alphabet. You can teach a child to speak by teaching individual words, but the child has a much better education if you teach it the alphabet and how to form words from the letters. In the same manner, if we teach a dog his body parts, we can teach him to form new behaviors by naming or indicating the part(s) of their body that will be used to form a behavior.
The idea of teaching a dog to be aware of, and use on cue, the different parts of its body is a new concept to most dog trainers, but some exotic animal trainers/keepers have been using it for years to manage and train their animals. There are so many effective dog training methods now available for all the various dog sports that many dog trainers are comfortable continuing to use what already works for them. However, for those interested in going to the next level and teaching their dog to be aware of his body parts, this technique is for you.
1) Have the dog in an informal Stand/Stay. (I started by kneeling by my dog's side.)
2) Using the pointer and index fingers together, gently push the dog's hip until you feel him "give" under the pressure -- while saying "Hip."
3) Quickly move fingers off the hip slightly -- 1/8th of an inch -- to where the dog's hip will naturally realign itself --
as you begin an intermediate bridge.
4) As soon as the dog's hip touches your fingers, give the terminal bridge (I say "Yes!") and reinforce.
5) Continue doing this in incremental distances until the dog is actually moving toward your fingers voluntarily.
6) Through a series of progressive trials, the dog will come to understand that isolating and moving that body part towards your hand is the goal.
6. Throat
7. Neck (back of)
8. Ears
9. Eyes
10. Shoulders
16. Ankles
17. Front Feet
18. Back Feet
19. Hocks
20. Stifles
While my dogs understood the concept of move towards, when asked to move a trunk body part to an upward or downward target, they seemed to have a difficult time comprehending what to do.
(Moving forward, backward, or sideways did not cause the same confusion.) It takes time for a neurological connection to make a conscious and strong pathway. This pondering also happened when I first started asking the dogs to target with two body parts -- say a nose and a hip, and then with three body parts. My dogs are still young -- one is 20 months and one is almost three years old. I've only been using body targeting with them since learning about this technique a little over a year ago, but I am very excited about the results and what the dogs are accomplishing.
The dogs and I are having so much fun with Bridge and Target! Here, I've asked both dogs to target their chins to the ball -- which Jyah is doing correctly. Sydney didn't want to look Jyah straight in the eye so she decided to put her own spin on things and put her left foot on top of the ball and her forehead against the side of the ball. Funny girl!
