TARGET FOR DOG TRAINING

When you want the dog to have his paws in a special place or in a special position, then it's great to use target. Because by using the paw target, it becomes clear to the doggie what it should do. There are various objects that can be used as targets, some are high like a platform and others lie flat on the ground like a target mat. What you use in target training is up to you and the dog.

It also depends on how and for what purpose you want to train target. If it's about teaching the dog to lock its paws in obedience, you might want a different kind of target than the agility dog that has to learn contact fields, or for that matter when the doggy has to strength train on a balance ball. But once the dog has learned the purpose of the target, it is usually not a problem to switch to another type of target plate.

And when you're still thinking about target training, why not try nostarget, where the dog has to sniff an object, perhaps your hand or a toy or whatever you choose.