Which technique is especially good for people with limited range of motion but may require more equipment?

• A. Targeting
• B. Shaping
• C. Prompting
• D. Modeling

Answer: (A)

Targeting trains the dog to touch a designated object or surface with the nose or paw, providing a clear, measurable cue the dog can respond to. For someone with limited range of motion, this setup is especially advantageous because the handler doesn’t need to perform large or awkward movements—the dog moves toward the target, and the cue can be placed where the handler can reach. The trade-off is that it often requires more equipment, such as a target stick, target pad, or similar device, but that equipment enables precise, repeatable training regardless of the handler’s mobility.

In practice, you might have the dog touch a pad on the floor or a stick at chest height; the dog earns a reward for contacting the target, and you gradually shape that contact into the desired behavior or position. This method is particularly useful for guiding a dog through tasks or positions when full-body handling isn’t feasible for the trainer.

Shaping develops behavior through successive approximations without relying on a fixed cue or target object, prompting uses cues or lures that still depend on the handler’s manual input, and modeling relies on the trainer showing the dog what to do. These approaches don’t specifically address training with limited handler mobility and the potential benefit of a tangible, movable cue that targeting provides.