Could anyone please give me some pointers on how to train and improve a dogs ability to "Look" or "watch"? Mine basically understand but Im having a hard time getting them to remain fixing their gaze on me for longer periods of time and with distractions. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

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Could anyone please give me some pointers on how to train and improve a dogs ability to "Look" or "watch"? Mine basically understand but Im having a hard time getting them to remain fixing their gaze on me for longer periods of time and with distractions. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

When you say "for a longer period and with distractions," are you combining the two without doing each one separately?

First I'd work on "for a longer period of time," and have zero distraction, only then gradually -- slowly -- adding mild distraction.

So I have the food in my hand and move it up to my face and reward when he makes eye contact. You have probably done this, since you say they have the basic understanding.

Then I release him for a bit and play, and do it again, and I praise as well as give the treat. Slowly increase the time, still treating and praising. It takes a week or two (IME) to move up to a minute of eye contact while I'm still feeding him. (I wean off the treats later.) I keep praising to keep his attenion.

Then I add a mild corrections (light leash pop) if he starts to look away, maybe in week two or week three. If I have to correct, then the instant he returns his gaze I praise and reward.

Is this too detailed, or is this what you are asking? I do all this until it's solid before any distraction, and the distraction is also very gradual. I start with a far-off distraction, moving it closer only as he stays solid with the distance it was.

Just what I have done. I'm sure others will have suggestions. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

great! just what i was looking for. Thank you!

ps anyone else can also chime in. would be interested to see what others have done as well.

I teach this method

The Eye Contact Game

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I teach this method

The Eye Contact Game

That's a nice one! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

very cool! my dogs can stare at me for at least 20 seconds now. but i guess i just need to work on lengthening the time and then start adding the destractions. im halfway there!

I taught my dog by putting the treat in my hand (he sees me do this), bringing my hand to my face about chin level and at the same time saying the command, "Achtung". Almost immediately I would drop my hand from my face. He learned within 2 or 3 trys not to look at the treat in my hand but to look me in the eye. If he tried to follow the treat in the beginning, I'd say a mild "no no" and repeat the hand movement to my face and repeat the command.

He knows now to look me in the eye and that no where else is acceptable. I then added the distraction of having people in the family call his name as he was doing this command. His grasp of this command is very impressive. They can and will call his name from close or distance, offer treats, offer to play, make loud noises, he will NOT look away from me - very, very cool command <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> !

FYI - after we do this, his reward is not only the treat but a play session with whatever family member offered this during his distraction phase of Achtung. Maybe I'm wrong and he can't figure this out but I feel it's unfair to use a distraction of "Wanna Play?" to further his grasp of the command and then not play when we're thru. I feel bad for him <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> . So we play!!

Judy,

Oh neat! I just tried this, but my dog started offering "speak" to get the treat. So I put a treat on the floor and told him to "leave it". That focused his attention on the treat on the floor. Then I said "look", and when he looked up at me I gave him a treat from my hand. It seems to be working. Learn something every day.

Good luck w/it. It's not only really cool but very helpful when you're in the street or park and you need him to NOT focus on the barking dog, running cat, screaming kid, etc.

I've been doing this the past few days. Saying "LOOK" When we are walking outside and he tries to pick up a rock or something or sometimes he wants to try and run ahead of me. I just simply say Look to get him to look up at me and he then listens to other commands.

I had to use treats at first but within two days he learned it pretty well. Now that's not to say he doesn't listen sometimes but for teh most part he does.