The purpose of this game is to teach the dog to follow your hands as you move them around with treats in hand.
Hand Tag is a game that builds connection with your dog, and sets a foundation for future games and command activities. This game also begins the process of giving them food in exchange for doing something, which helps establish you as the pack leader.
This activity also helps engage their sense of smell. When a dog is born the first sense to develop is the nose, and the sense of smell is usually hard-wired to the calm, wonderful memory of their mom feeding them. This game helps them return to this calm, happy state.
Setting up for the Activity
For this activity we recommend that, as much as possible, you “ditch the bowl,” which means that you temporarily feed your dog their daily portions through training rewards, rather than in their bowl.
If you are not feeling kind, calm, and confident, do not train your dog until you are in a better mental state. Kindness is a choice, calmness takes practice, and confidence comes with education, which will grow as you master this activity.
Activity Steps
Take several pieces of food in the palm of your hand. Use your hand like a dispenser, and with your thumb, roll the food from your palm up to your fingertips.
While standing, Get your dog’s attention with one hand that is holding the treat with fingers pressed together.
When the dog comes to your hand, which is held at the level of your dog’s nose, move it around in a sweeping motion like you are waving a wand. Keep the treat right on your dog’s nose as it follows your hand motion.
Lead your first hand to the second as your dog follows the sweeping motion to the new hand. Alternate back and forth between the hands while standing in one place. Use figure-eight and other motions, varying regularly.
As your dog picks up the motion and follows you with its nose touching (or close to) your hand, use the marker word “Yes!” to encourage the desired behavior.
Next, move your feet from side to side or forward and back while continuing your hand motions. Then walk around while continuing your hand motions. As your dog gets better and better, increase the distance between their nose and your hands as well.
Repeat the process. Play the game for up to 10 minutes, or until they struggle to succeed. Always end on a success, so you can treat and praise, always making this game a positive experience for you and your dog.
If your dog is struggles, consider the three D’s—distance, duration, and distraction. Shorten the distance between you, or the length of time you require them to obey before rewarding, or lessen any distractions (noises, children, other dogs, etc).
Training Over Time
Your dog will learn to follow the position and shape of your fingers over the actual treat that is in your hand. Teaching your dog to follow this unique hand/finger position will be very important in future activities.
You should also randomize the treating, so that your dog is not dependent on a food lure to follow the command.
As you dog gains a good grasp of this activity, consider the three D’s again. Now, increase the distance as you train, require a longer duration before rewarding, and add in distractions to help your dog succeed at higher and higher levels.
