Target Training: Teaching an Animal to Target an Object

I use a horse as my example in this lesson, but the method works with any animal that will do something to get food.

Target Training is one of the most valuable exercises you can teach yourself and your horse or dog.

The object of Target Training is simple. You want the horse to touch its nose to a target on command and keep its nose on the target until you give it a signal to stop.

To set this up you need to teach your horse the sound of a clicker is a YES sound. A click of the tongue (I use my tongue against the roof of my mouth for this signal because there is no way I'm going to make that sound without thinking about it), or a whistle will do fine. I'd advise not to use a word. You'll have other uses for them later on.

You teach YES by giving your horse a treat that it particularly likes; carrot coin, sugar cube, teaspoon of grain. Small is the key here. When it is chewing the treat you click. You repeat the click a couple of times, and then begin clicking as the horse takes the treat. The next step is to click just before the horse takes the goody. Then, extend the time of the click to a few seconds before. You extend the time of the click until at some point you make the sound and the horse "startles" and begins searching for the treat. You now have your "Yes" cue in place.

An important point, if at any time the horse tries to mug you, that is grab a treat directly from the goody bag, shut down. Fold your arms so he can't get a treat and respond only sufficiently to keep him from getting a treat, or hurting you. When he turns his head away click him. Then give him his treat. Make certain you always hold the treat well away from your body. It is a good idea to hold it where the horse has to back up or step away from you to get the treat.

Now, you are ready to teach your horse how to target. You can use anything. Cones, Frisbees, feed tub lids, or crops all make good targets. I like to use my fist for the very first target because I always have it with me. I also like to teach the click using my tongue against the roof of my mouth for the same reason. I always have it with me.

If you are working with an animal that you need to train at a distance a stick with a ball on the end can serve as your target. If you are working with a goldfish a straw with a small plastic ball is ideal. For an animal that is fearful or aggressive you can use as long a stick and big a ball as is necessary. I'll continue instruction using my fist as the example but the same instructions apply to a stick with a ball on it.

Place your fist where the horse HAS to touch it with some part of its muzzle. When it does, click. Then take out your treat and give it to the horse. Keep repeating this until you know the horse is deliberately touching the fist to get you to click.

DO NOT make the mistake of moving your fist around too much at first. You want it right where the horse is going to touch it every time. Once that is solid you can begin moving your fist until the horse has to move a bit to get to it. A couple of inches each time are more than enough. Once the horse is solid about touching your target, begin to change the position of the target. Remember only move it a couple of inches at a time. Give the horse plenty of time to learn to go to the target in its new spot before moving to the next one. After a while you will find the horse will touch your fist wherever it is. Now, ask the horse to step forward to touch the fist.

Once you have touching a target in place you have a method of getting your horse to do a lot of different things. Is he hard to catch? Hold out your fist, click, and treat when he touches it. Need to lead a horse through a scary place quickly? Target Training to the rescue.

By the way, all of this can happen really fast. If the horse gets bored, and starts wandering off, you are going too slowly. If it shuts down you are going too fast. If you are going too fast simply go back to the point where your horse could perform the task then slowly build from there. If it gets bored you are going to have to change something and build your chain of behaviors faster.
I once had an owner call me with a problem. There was a colicky horse she needed to get through a pasture that had an aggressive horse she couldn't catch or lead. Fortunately, this particular horse loved its feed. I went out with a fanny pack full of feed. The horse approached me. I gave it a handful of feed. He checked for any halters, ropes, etc. ... When he saw there were none he concentrated on getting more feed.

I then began with the teaspoon of feed and clicked as he chewed. In about two minutes we had gone to the stage of no feed in hand when I clicked, and he would begin looking for the feed.

The next stage of Target Training was teaching him to touch my fist. With this particular horse I quickly got to the point of demanding he touch his left nostril to my fist before I would click and treat. I lead him through the pasture, into the barn, past his stall, and into a strange stall with this method.

At one point during our Target training exercise the woman decided to help and was trying to drive the horse into the barn. He was so into the target touching exercise that he paid no attention to her whatsoever. The horse ignored her even though she got so aggressive at one point that my husband was afraid she was going to spook the horse and get me hurt.

We got him in the stall. With the aggressive horse stalled we were able to stall all the other horses and get the colicky horse up to the barn where it could be loaded in the trailer and taken to the vet.

You never know when you might need to use Targeting, so I advise you to practice it, and then teach it to your horses as soon as possible. Occasionally hold a refresher course in order to keep the skill in good order. Target training also works well with dogs, cats, fish, birds and other animals. It is especially useful in training cats.