Touch is a sendaway Game to a target box - the dog is sent by the handler through the start/finish poles, it runs 51ft/15.3m up the lane to the target box, either presses the marker with a front paw or takes a ball from the "ball holder" on the front of the box, then returns to its handler through the poles to be instantly rewarded with its motivator while the handler holds its harness.

It is strongly recommended that Recall Aims and Recall Starters should be read and reread as the dog progresses through the Games to keep these fundamental lessons fresh in your memory.  Pay particular attention to How Dogs Learn as well.

In addition to what the dog has already learnt in Recall, it also learns -

• Through trial and error (as was seen in Recall) that if it touches the Target Box (see Touch Equipment Needed) and comes back to the handler, it will instantly be rewarded with a high value motivator while it is being held by its harness. If the dog fails to touch the box, or does not allow the handler to touch its harness at the end of the exercise, it does not get the motivator and the exciting game is stopped. Therefore, the dog learns that in order to continue the Game and be rewarded with its motivator, it must do both these things.
  
  
• That the start of the Game is when the handler releases the dog's harness, and that the end of the Game (when it is rewarded) is when the handler has grasped the harness. These consistent triggers help the dog to relax in between runs as it does not become stressed wondering when it will be allowed to run down the lane and play the Game.
  
  
• To trust its handler that it will be consistently rewarded for playing the Touch Game and build up strong happy associations with the equipment and environment.
  
  
• To do an exercise further away from their handler than they are usually comfortable with. Many dogs have a "critical distance" or "comfort zone" that they prefer to stay within near to their handlers, particularly in new or strange circumstances (this distance is usually less than 51ft/15.3m). These dogs find it difficult to do tasks at a distance from their handler, as they are worried either that the handler will disappear or they cannot judge from the handler's voice or expression whether it is doing the exercise correctly or not. Teaching the game Touch overcomes these anxieties.
  

The handler learns -

• How much their dog relies on verbal commands, gestures and posture when being taught a new exercise. This is because most dog training is done with the handler and dog being close to one another so that the dog is used to looking at its handler for signals, and listening for verbal commands. Because Touch is eventually done with the dog at least 51ft/15.3m away from the handler, the dog and handler have to learn a new way of doing the exercise so that the dog is confident of doing it without the handler being nearby.
  
  
• Their dog's "comfort zone" distance. Most dogs struggle at some point in Touch Starters training on how far they are prepared to run away from their handler in order to touch the marker on the box. Once the handler and trainer are aware of this distance they can help the dog by reducing the distance, then gradually increasing it again so subtly over a number of lessons that the dog does not realise it is running further away than it is used to.
  
  
• If using the "marker" method, the benefits of using a clicker as a training aid, and also the pitfalls of relying on it for too long so that the dog is unable to do the exercise without it.

• When to give commands and signals and when not to, so that they do not distract the dog's concentration and cause it to go wrong.
  
  
• The importance of standing in the center of the lane so that the dog can focus its attention on the handler as it returns down the lane and through the finish poles. 
  
  
• As always, to finish each short training session (a maximum of 5 runs at a time) on a positive note - if the dog is unable to understand what you are trying to teach it, ask it to do something it is confident of doing instead (eg reduce the distance between the handler and the marker/target box; reintroduce the clicker to mark the instant that the dog touches the marker with its paw).  Then go away and think of how you can train the dog taking smaller steps in the training programme so that it can succeed in the next session.