Touch → Toss → Back to You
Touch → Toss is a simple, pattern game that builds fast re-orientation, cue clarity, and clean follow-through after reinforcement.
Food moves away from you, then your dog practises finishing the rep and choosing to come back on cue. The loop stays predictable and easy to read, making this a great entry-level game.
What You’ll Need
An open, quiet space
Small, tasty treats
How to Play It
Toss a treat a few feet away from you.
Let your dog eat the treat.
When their head comes off the bowl, cue “touch.”
Mark and toss another treat away — 🚫 no treat to mouth.
When their head comes up off the bowl again, cue “touch.”
Repeat the loop.
Keep tosses simple and reachable. The goal is a smooth finish and return — not speed or distance.
3 in 3 Breakdown
Skills
Recall foundations
Hand targets give your dog a clear, magnetic point to return to. Instead of “come back… somewhere near me,” they know exactly where to go and what to do when they arrive.
Leash-walking support
A quick hand target can reset your dog when they’re drifting, forging ahead, or getting distracted — without pulling the leash.
Clean re-orientation to you
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.
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
Body awareness
Intentional turns, weight shifts, and coordinated movement help your dog move with more control — especially useful for puppies, seniors, or dogs still learning where their body is in space.
Short bursts of functional movement
Back-and-forth reps add activity without needing a long session or big setup, practising controlled starts and stops.
Nose-led coordination
Orienting to the tossed food and then organising their body to return to your hand target encourages smoother movement and coordination.
