Touch → Jump
Touch → Jump is a simple pattern game that’s great for dogs who love to jump. And before you ask, this game will not make your puppy or dog jump more. Teaching a behaviour on cue doesn’t increase it randomly. In fact, it often does the opposite. For many dogs, putting jumping on cue and on purpose gives that energy somewhere appropriate to go.
What You’ll Need
An open, quiet space
Small, tasty treats
How to Play It
Cue “touch” with your hand target slightly elevated.
Dog jumps up to target your hand.
Place the treat away on the floor— 🚫 no treat to mouth.
When their head comes off the food and they come back to you, cue touch again.
Repeat.
Start low. Even a small lift or reach counts. As your dog gets comfortable, you can raise the hand target to add more height over time.
3 in 3 Breakdown
Skills
Recall foundations
Your dog practises finishing reinforcement and immediately re-engaging with you, building the habit of returning after the food is gone rather than lingering or disconnecting.
Cue clarity under movement
Touch happens while the dog is excited and moving, helping the cue stay clear and meaningful even when energy is higher — not just in quiet, stationary setups.
Clean re-orientation to you
The pattern reinforces turning back to you after movement and reward, strengthening the “back to you” loop that supports loose-leash work, recalls, and everyday engagement.
Enrichment
Problem solving (mental stimulation)
Your dog tracks the pattern, remembers what comes next, and stays engaged in the loop. It’s simple, but it still requires focus and thinking.
Social enrichment
You’re actively doing this together. It’s real one-on-one time that feels more like fun than work, building communication, cooperation, and connection.
Confidence building
The predictability of the game creates fast, easy wins. Your dog knows what’s coming and how to succeed.
Movement
Vertical body awareness
Reaching up — even slightly — encourages awareness of feet, balance, and body position.
Short bursts of power and control
The jump adds brief, functional effort without sustained intensity, making it easy to scale up or down.
Coordination through movement and reset
Moving up to target, then away to reset, builds coordinated transitions rather than static repetition.
