Lesson 9.2 – Target Training (Molly the Morepork, Part 3)

This is lesson 3 with Molly the Morepork. In this lesson we are going to be talking about target training your animals.

This Target training lesson is part of the first video series ever produced by the animal training academy. It is being digitally remastered for the Academy’s first year anniversary. Read on to learn a little bit more about the content for this lesson.

Target training.

Target training has a large range of different and highly beneficial uses. One of the most common uses is to train your animal to touch its nose to a target stick. You can see an example of this demonstrated in the video for this lesson with T-lo the cat. Having an animal target trained to a stick like this allows you to easily be able to communicate to your animal that you want it to move from location A to location B.

Of course you don’t have to target a nose and you don’t have to use a target stick. For example, it’s common practice in zoos when working with dangerous animals like tigers to get them to target their bums against the mesh of their exhibits. This allows a carer to use positive reinforcement to train acceptance of injections into that area.

In this video you can see how I use my finger to get Molly to bring her entire body over to wherever I am. This is target training as well. I am targeting Molly to my tapping finger. Frequently you might find that your animals are target trained and you don’t even know it. For example if you do training with your animal and always feed it out of your hand. You might find that if you close your hand into a fist your animal will follow it around. This means that your animal is targeting to your hand.

Enjoy this lessons video content below and good luck with all your training endeavors.

• Free Animal Training Video Series. Course

  A collection of video and content surrounding all areas of Animal Training.

  • Lesson 1 – The Secret about Feng Shui and Animal Training. Lesson

    A short lesson about the importance of Environmental Arrangement and Animal Training.

  • Lesson 2 – Creativity works for me! It can work for you, too! Lesson

    Learn about being creative in your training endeavours.

  • Lesson 3 – How to Measure Animal Behaviour. Lesson

    Learn about the importance of setting your animals environment up for success.

  • Lesson 4 – How to get into Animal Training. Lesson

    This lesson, shares my story and touches on how to get into animal training.

  • Lesson 5 – How to write Animal Training Plans. Lesson

    A lesson describing the process of writing a good training plan.

  • Lesson 6 – Clicker Training – How to know when to use a clicker. Lesson

    Learn about decisions I make as to when I use a clicker.

  • Lesson 7 – See how easily you can use Positive Reinforcement. Lesson

    Learn about the application of Positive Reinforcement.

  • Lesson 8 – How to quickly improve your skills – Animal Training Basics. Lesson

    This is a lesson that teaches you a simple thing you can do to help improve your training skills now!

  • Lesson 9 – Animal training relationships. (Molly the Morepork, Part 1). Lesson

    Learn about building partnerships with your animals.

    • Lesson 9.1 – Behavior Management. (Molly the Morepork, Part 2) Lesson

      In this lesson you will learn about empowering your animals and developing trusting relationships.

    • Lesson 9.2 – Target Training (Molly the Morepork, Part 3) Lesson

      In this lesson you will learn about target training your animals.

    • Lesson 9.3 – Crate training tips (Molly the Morepork, Part 4) Lesson

      In this lesson you will learn some quick crate training tips you can employ with all animals.

    • Lesson 9.4 – Owl training (Molly the Morepork, Part 5) Lesson

      In this lesson you will learn about short windows of opportunity.

    • Lesson 9.5 – Animal Training Skills (Molly the Morepork, Part 6) Lesson

      In this lesson you will learn about practicing your patience.

  • Lesson 10 – Competing Reinforcers – Does your dog come when called? Course

    This lesson explains what competing reinforcers are.