Who knew that going to the dentist would make me think about dog training?
I was halfway through my x-rays when I suddenly realized they were using concepts from target training! With new technology and some nods towards behavioral science, the hygienist had a target to help her line up the x-ray machine correctly.
By having a yellow hoop as a visual target of exactly where to place it, the hygienist was able to line up the machine to get a better image of the correct tooth.
This made the hygienist quicker and more successful at taking the x-rays and made me happy because it reduced the amount of time I had to sit in the dreaded dentist chair. Successful targeting in action!
You might not think much about target training in your every day life, but you would be amazed at how often it is used – even outside of dog training!
The white line before the stop sign is a visual target and we stop at the white line. A sleeping mat for preschoolers during nap time helps them stay on their own mats. Now, instead of playing with their best friends next to them, they learn to settle and rest. Target training can even be useful in potty training young children!
Zoos utilize target training in many different ways, such as when moving animals from one enclosure to another, performing examinations, or administering medications. Animals can even learn to touch their noses to objects or their hips to fences in order to receive injections!
Zookeepers used target training to teach the hippo in this photo to touch his chin to a rock. Once the target was successful, the zookeepers taught him to open his mouth so they could brush his teeth!
Stress levels are reduced for both animals and people when you have willing participants. More importantly, interactions are safer and more effective.
Targeting is extremely useful in dog training. A few quick examples are:
- Go to your mat
- Go to your crate
- Touch my hand
- Get up on the couch
- Watch me (targeting for eye contact)
And the list goes on and on. Targets are fun and useful learning tools!
Target training can help animals that are nervous navigate a new environment with less stress. It can help young puppies learn to settle on mats instead of begging at the dinner table and can also lead to fun tricks like shake! Targeting is popping up more frequently in our daily lives – like at our local dentist’s office.