Touch → Treat (Bowl)
Touch → Treat (Bowl) is a simple, engaging pattern game that teaches your dog to move toward your hand and then choose to come back to you after reinforcement. It builds focus, orientation, and responsiveness — three skills that make everyday training smoother and more enjoyable.
This version adds movement and enrichment by placing the food away from your body, giving your dog a clear job and a predictable loop. A small behaviour with huge practical benefits — and one you’ll use again and again.
What You’ll Need
An open, quiet space
A small bowl or plate to put treats on
Small, tasty treats
How to Play It
Place a small bowl or plate on the floor with a treat in it.
Let your dog eat the treat.
When their head comes off the bowl, cue “touch.”
Mark and place another treat in the bowl — 🚫 no treat to mouth.
When their head comes up off the bowl again, cue “touch.”
Repeat
As your dog understands the pattern, gradually increase the distance between you and the bowl so they travel farther each time.
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 adding tension to 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
Following the hand target and travelling to the bowl encourages your dog to organise their body around their nose, supporting smoother movement and coordination.
