Teaching a dog to "hand touch"—touching their nose to your palm—is a foundational, versatile cue used to build focus, confidence, and trust. It acts as a fun, positive reinforcement game that directs a dog's attention away from distractions (squirrels, dogs) and onto you. It is an essential, easy-to-teach tool for improving recall, teaching loose-leash walking, guiding them into positions for grooming, and strengthening the handler-dog bond.

Canine reward selection assessment is conducted to determine what specifically motivates an individual dog, ensuring that training is effective, humane, and efficient. Because dogs are individuals with varying preferences—some favouring food while others prefer toys or social play—these assessments allow us to create a tailored "hierarchy of rewards" that maximises learning and enthusiasm.