Focus or ‘Watch me’

 

Step 1: With a treat in your hand, use it as a lure to direct their eyes to yours.

Step 2: Start by holding the treat in front of their nose and move the treat up to your eyes.

Step 3: Once you make eye contact, 'mark' and treat

Step 4: After a few times, if your dog is easily meeting your eyes, remove the treat and just use the same hand motion. When they meet your eyes, 'mark' and treat.

Step 5: Next, begin to add your verbal cue. Repeat Step 4 and just as their eyes meet yours, say 'watch' then mark and treat!

 

Fun & Games

 

The Name Game

"The Name Game” teaches your dog attention and focus upon hearing his name. It couldn’t be simpler, as long as you know what your dog loves.

To play the name game:

  1. Just say your dog’s name

  2. When your dog turns her head to look at you, give her a small, very yummy treat from your hand and let her know what a genius she is for having chosen to do that.

  3. As she starts to look at you, smile, and give her a treat each time. She doesn’t have to sit or continue looking at you.

  4. Do this 5 to 10 times in a row, then smile and “release” her by telling her she’s great. You’re done!!

As your dog quickly learns that her name equals treats and attention, practice this in varying environments and with varying distractions: at home, at a bus stop, at a park etc., and at longer distances.

Unprompted Attention:
Back Up & Focus

When you start this exercise, every time your dog looks at you without you having asked him to, smile and treat him with 4 -15 treats, one after another, building the ability of the dog to look at you for several seconds.

  1. You want to give several treats in succession to build the duration of attention.

  2. If your dog looks away, wait for the next time he looks at you, don’t try to lure him back to looking at you.

  3. Make sure this isn’t just about the treats, but is also about connecting with your dog by talking, smiling, playing etc. Sometimes give smiles, “hoorays!”, clapping, a chance to sniff or run or play with a toy or chase a ball – use “real life” rewards for attention too.

  4. As your dog learns the habit of unprompted attention, the treats can become far less frequent, and the reward of shared communication and other things the dog likes take their place.

Eye Contact

Have a handful of treats, and stand with your dog in front of you. Your hands should be at your side and you should try to look relaxed, not weirdly stiff!

  1. Wait for eye contact. If your dog paws/nudges your hands, move them behind your back. Keep your eyes on your dog and wait silently. It’s extremely important that you not “hard stare” at your dog while doing this. Smile – this is something you’re doing together, and you’re behaving strangely!

  2. Be ready to mark and treat. Usually, in a few seconds, your dog will accidentally look at your face. As soon as they do, mark and treat.

  3. Stand still and wait again. The next time your dog looks at you, mark and treat. Repeat for a minute or two every day for 2 weeks, then a few times a week for the rest of the dog’s life. You don’t need to name this behavior, just reinforce your dog looking at you for information and a “hello” as a natural part of their behavior for the rest of their life.

 

With contributions from IAABC