TOUCH - EQUIPMENT NEEDED

In addition to the equipment used in Recall you will need -

• A target box such as the "Touch N Turn" Target Box. This cleverly designed piece of equipment can quickly be folded flat for ease in transportation and storage, yet it is strong enough to cope with big dogs running up to and turning off it.
  
  

  Either a helper to stand on the back lower crosspiece of the target box, OR between two and four iron stakes and a lump hammer to fix the target box firmly to the ground so that it does not move at all when the dog runs up and presses it. The target box link gives details of the recommended dimensions of these stakes.

  
  EITHER

A "ball holder" cross bar which clips to the Target Box, so that a ball can rest in the hole for the dog to retrieve (available from the Target Box manufacturers). Balls for the dog to retrieve.

OR

• Heavy-duty sticky tape (often called "duck tape") which can be bought at DIY stores - It needs to be heavy-duty tape so that it can stick to a variety of surfaces as you generalise where the marker is put. This tape is used either to hold down the paper marker (see below) or as a marker in its own right. Experiment to find what size and shape suits your dog - the marker can be one strip (eg 3-4"/8-10cm or longer) or a cross made out of two strips of tape. Be careful not to make the marker too small as the dog needs to see it eventually over a distance of at least 51ft. However, if the marker is too big the dog will become confused over which part of the marker it is being rewarded for touching.

• Good quality sharp scissors to cut the tape.
  
  
• Pieces of paper approximately 3" (8cm) square. Although dogs are unable to see colours as we humans see them, they are able to differentiate contrasts and find it easy to see bright colours against a dark background. With this in mind, it is best if either white or brightly coloured paper is used for teaching Touch. Be careful that the dog does not mouth the paper or try to tear or pick it up (particularly terrier breeds) - in these circumstances it is best to stick at least two edges of the paper down firmly with the heavy-duty sticky tape, or just use the tape as a marker.
  

• A clicker - this is not essential but if the dog is used to being trained with one it is a very useful tool to use.  However, it is a very powerful tool as well and should not be used by inexperienced handlers - find a good dog trainer who can show you how to use it correctly and at exactly the right moment.  Sheila Harper Canine Education stocks a variety of good books and videos about the subject and can recommend trainers who teach clicker training and courses that you may like to attend.
  

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