Teaching Focus

[Adalia's mummy]

Could you give me your secrect training advise for the Focus or Watch command?? I know it was posted earlier but maybe I'm just dumb and can't find it.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/12_help.gif[/img]

[bama_lorne]

Here is the latest post I made concerning teaching focus. My suggestion is to teach with food initially, but remember use whatever motivator works for your dog.

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Here are some of my suggestions for teaching the watch command. I hold my hands to my side with a treat in each hand. I like to confront the problem of using food as a lure right away. Make sure your dog knows that both hands have a treat in them. The dog will probably nudge the hands. He may stare at your hands. However, eventually he will look up at you. When he does mark this behavior with a single word. This word is your secondary reinforcer. I use the word GOOD. I say it as soon as I get eye contact. At first the eye contact will be fast so be ready. Then reward him after the GOOD. This will take lots of repetitions, but it will get that focus on YOU not the food. Some people suggest luring with the food by moving it to your eyes, but then again you have to remove the food at some point and it becomes more difficult. I like to make the dog think and this way he has a choice and must use his brain. I attached some training photos below.

Teaching Focus


More Teaching Focus. Notice my training partner holding her hands out to her side (her hands are full of Ham) and the dog is still focused on her.


Here is a photo of generalizing the focus to everyday activities.


Here are some heeling shots.


Here is my daughter and training partner heeling with a toy.


I hope this helps and if you have more questions you can PM me as well. Good Luck!!
One more thing about this exercise, after a week or so you should try this exercise with the food bowl, going outside, and also with toys. Generalize the command to any and everything. What you are really teaching is that if the dog looks at you good things happen. Basically you become the center of his universe.



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[Kayos and Havoc]

Had not heard from you in awhile bama!!! Hope all is well!

[youngK9]

Hi Kathy!

Dad is working on his new kennel for his new dogs. He is not on the board much now. I tell him to post when I think someone needs his advice. I think he checks the board at work but not often. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/13_puppy.gif[/img]

[Adalia's mummy]

Excellent! Thanks so much!! lol, how did you get such a great heel??

[Kayos and Havoc]

Hey Gabby, I was wondering about him. You guys are some of my favorite people on here.

Hope the kennel turns out great and he will have to post pictures.

[Kayos and Havoc]

Hey Gabby ask your dad to check out 2 posts I made up in chat. One is older and titled "Now I've Done It Big Vent" and the other I just put up tonight titled "I Don't Know What to Do." I actually could use his input.

Thanks!!

[bama_lorne]

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Excellent! Thanks so much!! lol, how did you get such a great heel??

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Gabby is a heck of a trainer!!! I just watch her most of the time. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/05_biggrin.gif[/img]

We start with focus and then move to the heeling and other commands. Having the dog think you are the source of all good things makes teaching other commands easy. Good Luck!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/18_thumb.gif[/img]

[Adalia's mummy]

You must be very proud of Gabby!! She looks like she's doing a wonderful job!!

[Adalia's mummy]

hmmm.. trying to figure out how to mark this as a favorite..