Teaching Focus

[Nina]

I so enjoyed watching your video's. I noticed that you were speaking German, is that right? I need your Gabby here to help me.

[Nina]

My poor dog has been trying to 'focus' but isn't sure what to do, she is performing every trick she knows in hope of some treat. When she looks at me, I say good girl the same split second that she has now lifted her paw, so that must be confusing for her too.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Nina, the problem you are having is why the clicker works better in many training situations. Quicker, sharp sound, and much clearer to the dog to prevent confusion with offering other behaviors. Your circumstance is exactly why, though I can use my voice as a marker and it seems clear to me, to my DOG there may still be a problem.

http://www.clickerlessons.com/attention.htm

http://tailsawagginonline.com/clickertraining.html

http://www.wagntrain.com/attention.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15vKq...eature=related

[Nina]

Thank you very much, what is quickly saw of the sites look good, I will now work with them.

[JohnnyB]

When you mark the eye contact with a word, should the word be a praise word (good) or the command you want for the look (watch/look)?

Also, at what age should we start this training (can you start too early)?

Thanks!

[Catu]

You give the comand (Watch/look, etc.) get the behavior for half a second and praise and reward. Later you give the commend, get the behavior, praise, praise, praise (to keep the behavior in time) and reward.

With the time you ask for focus longer and longer, first praising constantly to confirm the behaviour and then prasing more sparsely, to meke the pup not dependant of your voice. Finally you have a constant focus with you in silence, praise and reward.

Hope to have been clear...

ETA: And this is something it's never to early to start.

[JohnnyB]

To make sure I understand, you're giving the command (look/watch) before you get the look, regardless how long it takes to get the look. Then praise & reward. Right?

Sorry, this is all new to me. Hopefully next month with the trainer I'll be trained!

[Catu]

I don't wait that the pup look at me for luck and then praise (or click), that is a way of doing it but I'm not patient enough. I at first direct the gaze of the pup showing a treat and puting it at my eyes level while I give the command and reward. Then I slowly move the treat down praising the pup if he keeps its gaze in my eyes and starting again if he moves it with the treat.

[DancingCavy]

Originally Posted By: JohnnyBTo make sure I understand, you're giving the command (look/watch) before you get the look, regardless how long it takes to get the look. Then praise & reward. Right?

Sorry, this is all new to me. Hopefully next month with the trainer I'll be trained!

If you want to add in a verbal cue, I would add it while the dog is in the process of doing what you want. So, once they look at you for a second, say your cue (watch, look, whatever), then reward them. You don't want to add a verbal cue until they understand the behavior. If you say 'Watch me' before they have learned the behavior, it means nothing to them and can dilute it's meaning. Or they might associate 'Watch me' with doing anything BUT watching you.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted By: JohnnyB Also, at what age should we start this training (can you start too early)?

It's never too early! I started out with mine as 9 week old puppies. I didn't give any commands, just hung out with them with a treat bag and a clicker. When they looked at me, click/treat. You can also mark it verbally - Yes! or Good! Do several short sessions a few times each day.

Once they were giving me frequent eye contact I started adding the command "watch", and then I'd mark and treat. I like to hold the treat (very small, pinched between my fingers) right in front of the puppy's face, and then WAIT. At first they'll try to get the treat, but eventually they'll look up at you to figure out what the heck is going on, and that's the exact second you want to mark with your voice or a clicker, and then release the treat.

They learn that to get what they want, they have to look AWAY from it and at you instead, which avoids the whole "my dog looks at the food instead of me" problem that people often run into when using treat rewards. Even an extremely food motivated dog can be taught quite easily to ignore food in order to get it.