When we start a new dog training class, one of the first questions we ask is, “What’s the most powerful force in the universe?”
About half of the class gets all gushy and says, “Love.” The other half usually goes with “Gravity.”
They’re all wrong. The most powerful force in the universe is habit. Which you already know if you’ve ever tried to break one.
Dogs are creatures of habit, just like we are. And just like it is for people, a dog’s habits can be good, or… not-so-much.
Use Your Power
New, good habits can be built in as little as 50 repetitions, according to neuroscience. That means a new behavior, practiced for just two minutes a couple of times a day, can be established in less than two weeks.
Let’s say you want your dog to pay attention when you say their name. If you play the “Name Game” for a couple of weeks, your dog’s default habit will be to snap their eyes to yours the moment they hear it.
You may think your dog already does this. We’d lay a wager you’re wrong. Try it right now if your dog is nearby.
Say their name. If they look, you have our humble apologies. If they don’t, you’re not alone. People over-use dogs’ names constantly. Most of the time, the dog has zero reason to pay attention because they know, from experience, that nothing interesting is happening.
You can change that in just two weeks.
Building Value with “Touch!”
Even more useful than the Name Game is “Touch!” If your dog is excitable or ill-mannered in public, making “Touch!” the most valuable game in the world is worth your while. It’s the game you play when another dog is down the street barking behind a fence, or when a bunny darts across your path.
But you have to establish the habit of “Touch!” in the house before it can be used in the wild. You have to build that muscle memory until it’s a pure reflex.
How to Play “Touch!”
It’s an easy game to play, yet most people get it wrong. Here is how to do it right:
- Position your hand: Plaster your hand, palm out, against your leg at your dog’s nose level. (By your ankle for a Dachshund; by your hip for a Golden Retriever).
- Invite them over: Wiggle your fingers.
- The “Bop”: The moment your dog checks it out and touches your palm with their nose, say “Yes!”
- Deliver the reward: Give them a treat with your other hand directly into your dog’s mouth on your palm.
⚠️ Critical Step: Always use your opposite hand to deliver the treat. If you pre-load your “Touch!” hand with food, your dog is just following a bribe. That’s luring, not rewarding. If you don’t have treats on you later, you’re stuck—the dog’s nose will tell them you’re lying.
Reward Every Single Time
When you’re building the “Touch!” habit, reward every single time your dog bops your palm. Every. Single. Time. That’s how you’re building that habit – the most powerful force in the universe.
Think of this desired behavior like a savings account in your dog’s brain. Every time you practice, the balance grows. Each reward deposits a little more interest. Pretty soon, you are flush with success.
Eventually, you’ll be in an emergency where you don’t have treats—like if a stray cat hisses at your dog on a walk. You call “Touch!” and your dog’s habit compels them to do it.
You’ve just made a huge withdrawal from that savings account. That’s okay! That is exactly what the account is there for. But remember: afterward, you have to go back to basic training and make a few deposits to keep the account in the black.
Your 2-Minute Homework
Ever heard the old joke? Tourist to New Yorker: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” New Yorker: “Practice, practice, practice.”
You don’t need to be a virtuoso to have a well-behaved dog. You just need two minutes. Start practicing now. Set a timer on your phone, grab a handful of treats, and go get your first 5 repetitions of “Touch!” out of the way. Your future self will thank you.