Teaching Focus - Page 13

Baja'smom · 03-12-2010, 10:01 AM

I have been working with Baja on this as she loses her focus on walks when she sees another dog(she really wants to play with them). AT this time the distraction of another dog is our only real challenge when walking. I make sure her treats are outstanding. We are not making the progress I would hope. She has an incredible toy drive, be it ball Frisbee or anything that squeaks, even that cannot keep her attention from a potential new friend. any and all further suggestions are welcome.

Superhero · 10-20-2010, 05:20 PM

Is it ok to use a dog's name for their "watch me" command? I currently have my puppy to the point where she will stare at me in the eyes for however long I need her to if I am doing focus work, but I have yet to assign any command to it (only using my marker word when she looks at me). I was thinking using her name for her focus command could be convenient, but I'm not sure if there are any other implications with doing this.

**Cassidy's Mom** · 10-20-2010, 08:20 PM

I do want my dogs' heads to whip around towards me when I say their names, but I have a separate "watch" command too. You might want to use her name to get her attention, but then ask her for extended eye contact or to do something else, and that something else might at times conflict with sitting there and staring at you. It's up to you, though.

CaseysGSD · 10-22-2010, 12:32 PM

do you use a command to signal the focus or are they to learn to do this without a prompt?

**Cassidy's Mom** · 10-22-2010, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaseysGSD

do you use a command to signal the focus or are they to learn to do this without a prompt?

Yes.

I teach a "watch" command, but I also spend a LOT of time marking and rewarding spontaneous eye contact from the time I bring home a new puppy. I want to be able to get my dogs' attention on cue, but I also want a strong foundation of them paying attention to me even when I haven't actually told them to, so I reward it heavily. A clicker is perfect for this.

Superhero · 10-25-2010, 01:33 PM

I have been doing the same. I simply haven't added an actual "watch" command yet. I am currently training her to look me in the eye when I call her name.

When/how did you go about adding your "watch" command?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassidy's Mom

Yes.

I teach a "watch" command, but I also spend a LOT of time marking and rewarding spontaneous eye contact from the time I bring home a new puppy. I want to be able to get my dogs' attention on cue, but I also want a strong foundation of them paying attention to me even when I haven't actually told them to, so I reward it heavily. A clicker is perfect for this.

ST33L3R · 11-18-2010, 12:40 PM

Our Dog Steeler does so wonderful with his training. He really wants to make us happy. The hard part is we can only give him 5 to 10 minutes of training time outside. Our neighbor lets her chihuahua run free and it distracts our dog and we are afraid of him playing to ruff and hurting her dog. So we bring him right back inside. We have asked her to please try and keep her dog in her yard while we have Steeler outside in his own yard training. She thinks it's cute that they are playing but we have a feeling her 2 lb. dog will be hurt by our 150 lb. GS and it won't be so cute anymore. We are trying to find a new outdoor place to train him, since we can't seem to do this in our own yard... We don't want to take him to a dog park because of the distractions... any suggestions?

G-burg · 11-20-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

We are trying to find a new outdoor place to train him, since we can't seem to do this in our own yard... We don't want to take him to a dog park because of the distractions... any suggestions?

I like to use parks.. Or empty tennis courts.. With the weather getting cooler not many people using them..

shilorio · 11-20-2010, 02:26 PM

bama and gabby,, thats so impressive, ive been trying to get eye contact from my dogs for ever haha they are good, but not so much with distractions

haha its a work in progress no? haha

on an estimate, how long did it take you to achive full focas everywhere?

thanks !! -BREANA

priyankumupal · 03-18-2011, 03:32 AM

omg...i tried this, and it actually worked...I'm so happy, it was extreemly hard to get my puppy to focus for 5 seconds before. Now he gazes at me intently for almost 30 seconds. He does seem to forget it after a while. I'm trying my best to repeat it when ever possible. Thanks for this

10-20-2010, 08:20 PM	#123 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,338	I do want my dogs' heads to whip around towards me when I say their names, but I have a separate "watch" command too. You might want to use her name to get her attention, but then ask her for extended eye contact or to do something else, and that something else might at times conflict with sitting there and staring at you. It's up to you, though. __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

11-20-2010, 02:26 PM	#129 (permalink)
shilorio Master Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lynnwood Posts: 752	bama and gabby,, thats so impressive, ive been trying to get eye contact from my dogs for ever haha they are good, but not so much with distractions haha its a work in progress no? haha on an estimate, how long did it take you to achive full focas everywhere? thanks !! -BREANA __________________ "my goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am" "Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail.."

03-18-2011, 03:32 AM	#130 (permalink)
priyankumupal Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 62	omg...i tried this, and it actually worked...I'm so happy, it was extreemly hard to get my puppy to focus for 5 seconds before. Now he gazes at me intently for almost 30 seconds. He does seem to forget it after a while. I'm trying my best to repeat it when ever possible. Thanks for this __________________ Corby 30th December 2010

03-12-2010, 10:01 AM	#121 (permalink)
Baja'smom New Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Idaho Posts: 11	I have been working with Baja on this as she loses her focus on walks when she sees another dog(she really wants to play with them). AT this time the distraction of another dog is our only real challenge when walking. I make sure her treats are outstanding. We are not making the progress I would hope. She has an incredible toy drive, be it ball Frisbee or anything that squeaks, even that cannot keep her attention from a potential new friend. any and all further suggestions are welcome.

10-20-2010, 05:20 PM	#122 (permalink)
Superhero Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 158	Is it ok to use a dog's name for their "watch me" command? I currently have my puppy to the point where she will stare at me in the eyes for however long I need her to if I am doing focus work, but I have yet to assign any command to it (only using my marker word when she looks at me). I was thinking using her name for her focus command could be convenient, but I'm not sure if there are any other implications with doing this.

10-22-2010, 12:32 PM	#124 (permalink)
CaseysGSD Master Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 806	do you use a command to signal the focus or are they to learn to do this without a prompt?

11-18-2010, 12:40 PM	#127 (permalink)
ST33L3R Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: It's a DOG'S world Posts: 88	Our Dog Steeler does so wonderful with his training. He really wants to make us happy. The hard part is we can only give him 5 to 10 minutes of training time outside. Our neighbor lets her chihuahua run free and it distracts our dog and we are afraid of him playing to ruff and hurting her dog. So we bring him right back inside. We have asked her to please try and keep her dog in her yard while we have Steeler outside in his own yard training. She thinks it's cute that they are playing but we have a feeling her 2 lb. dog will be hurt by our 150 lb. GS and it won't be so cute anymore. We are trying to find a new outdoor place to train him, since we can't seem to do this in our own yard... We don't want to take him to a dog park because of the distractions... any suggestions?

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