s D
Day 7 – Kiss
Today’s trick is straight from the AKC’s Novice list: the kiss on the cheek! This adorable and endearing party trick is always a crowd-pleaser, and we couldn’t resist including it in our class.
To teach this trick, we’ll first focus on getting your dog to reliably target a post-it note or piece of tape with their nose. Then, we’ll transfer that target to your cheek and refine the behavior so that your dog responds to a verbal and/or visual cue. The targeting skill your dog learns here will also come in handy for other tricks later in the class!
How to Teach Kiss
Step 1: Introduce the Target
- Hold a post-it note or small piece of tape in your hand. Present it close to your dog’s nose.
- Mark (with a clicker or verbal marker) and reward any interaction with the target—sniffing, touching, or nudging it with their nose.
An Important Note
It’s completely possible to teach our dogs to “kiss” by forgoing the post-it note entirely and simply tapping our cheek, making sure to mark when their nose hits the right spot. If you’d prefer to train it that way, go for it!
However, we will be using the post-it note target for other tricks later in this class, so this is a great opportunity to introduce your dog to the concept with a fairly easy trick.
Step 2: Focus on Nose Touches
- Once your dog consistently interacts with the target, narrow your criteria to only nose touches. Mark and reward every time their nose makes contact with the target.
- Move the target slightly to different positions (e.g., to the side or higher up) to ensure your dog understands the goal is to touch the target, not just the position of your hand.
Step 3: Transfer the Target to Your Cheek
- Place the post-it note or tape on your cheek and use your hand to guide your dog toward the target.
- Mark and reward when your dog’s nose touches the target on your cheek. Repeat this step several times until your dog reliably touches the target on your cheek.
Step 4: Add a Visual Cue
- Introduce a visual cue, such as tapping your cheek, as you place the target there. This helps your dog understand where to go.
Step 5: Introduce a Verbal Cue
- Add a verbal cue (e.g., “kiss”) just before your dog touches the target on your cheek.
Step 6: Remove the Target
- Once your dog is consistently following the verbal and visual cues, remove the post-it note or tape from your cheek.
- Use only the verbal cue and/or visual cue (like tapping your cheek) to prompt your dog to give you a “kiss.”