Watch me tips...

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

Hi All,

DiTTo and I just started a competition obedience class and the instructor
has written hand outs.  This is one part of one of her handouts that
I think everyone can benefit from...  So I painstakingly typed it
out for you all...  I would give credit but the credits are not on
the page...  

G :-) 


It's imperative for your dog to be focused on you during training. A dog
that is taught to be attentive is much less likely to be distracted by
stimulus in his environment. An attentive dog can also catch subtle cues
from your body language that a less focused dog will pick up on.

Part One: 
Eye contact game: Your dog will learn that looking straight into your
eyes is always rewarded. You will be asking your dog non verbally to make
a choice between looking at a reward and looking into your eyes. Only by
making the desired choice (looking away from the treat) will your dog get
the treat. There is no verbal commands in part one of this exercise other
than praise and praise is not a command. Praise: Good Dog!!! That A
Boy!!! Good Job!!! 

1. Find something your dog really loves, preferably a food treat the size
of a raisin and soft, I use frozen string cheese. If your dog is not
motivated by food find something that excites him: a toy that makes
noise, something. 

2. On leash, hold the leash loosely in your left hand. Use your right
hand to show the treat by holding it in front of his nose. Move your
right hand straight out to the side.

3. Wait for eye contact. The instant your dog looks away from the reward
and makes eye contact with you PRAISE and immediately give the dog the
reward. 
Repeat these steps a few times a day. You will find that your dog quickly
figures out how to "train" you to give rewards. 

Part Two: 
When you see that your dog is making a conscious choice to make eye
contact start to vary your position. Change hands, hold the reward to the
left, behind your dog, alternate. Change the game, sit in a chair, you
will find that every time you make a change the challenge will be
greater, this is normal and stimulation is good and from your dogs point
of view this is a new game. 

Part Three: 
Now we can add commands, such as: "Ready", "Focus" or
"Watch" (I use "Ready" because this word is used in
the obedience ring by the judge who will ask you "Are you
ready?" This is edge training Q'ing the dog.) 

1. Give the command, show the reward and when your dog make eye contact,
say "YES" and give the reward. 

2. Now start playing the eye contact game in everyday life. If you wait
for one eye contact before letting your dog our of the crate for example,
you will really begin to experience the fringe benefits of this game.
Instead of acting wild and crazy when you approach the crate, he will
start thinking and claming himself in order to give you eye contact. Use
this for entering and exiting doors, cars. 
Be creative... Only reward eye contact, do not reward food or reward/toy
contact. 

Gina
mailto:gina@briergoldens.com