- Important to redirect dog’s attention to you during activity and/or training.
- VISUAL FIRST, for about 3 to 4 days
- Treat in hand, waive treat under dog’s nose & direct with 2 fingers to your eyes. As soon as you get eye contact, click & treat… Don’t delay click & reward at this point, just be sure to click & treat as soon as dog looks into your eyes.
- Common Mistake – we click as treat is being delivered to the dog. Dog is following treat, not looking into our eyes. Therefore, be sure to click with your fingers still at your eyes…
- ADDING VERBAL CUE: After 3 or 4 days, add word to the cue “Watch Me”, “Look”, or “Focus”… Be consistent with whatever verbal cue you select…
- Best to add the word just before the visual cue, so that the dog does not get confused and think later that he/she must hear and see the cue in order to comply…
- If the dog gets distracted, repeat “visual cue only”, don’t repeat verbal cue, as dog might later become desensitized to the word and ignore it completely.
The advice and tips provided in this dog training blog post are based on general best practices and personal experiences. Please consult a professional dog trainer or veterinarian for specific issues or before starting any new training regimen with your dog.
About the Author: Rusty
Rusty is a seasoned canine with a wealth of experience in dog training and behavior. With years of playful practice and a knack for turning training into a fun adventure, Rusty shares tips and advice to help every pup and owner build a stronger bond.
