What is the purpose of targeting in dog training?

• A. To punish undesired behavior.
• B. To shape a dog to interact with an object it has already been taught to interact with.
• C. To increase vocalization.
• D. To distract the dog from training.

Answer: (B)

Targeting in dog training is about getting the dog to interact with a specific object or cue in a precise, repeatable way, and reinforcing that interaction so it becomes a reliable building block for more complex behaviors. This approach serves to shape the dog's responses by using a defined target, allowing you to guide movements and actions with consistency. The best answer reflects that targeting helps the dog interact with an object it already has some experience with, and then you can expand from there to more advanced tasks. It’s not about punishing behavior, increasing barking, or simply distracting the dog; those goals don’t describe why targeting is used.