Anna Hutzky Webboard User Reg: 03-08-2013
Posts: 19
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Hi There.
I have trouble getting my dog Zak's attention. I've done marker training and I just can't seem to get him to want to pay attention. When I'm working on heeling with him, he has his nose to the ground and is always looking around at everything else. (Even when there are not any distractions)It's like he's TRYING to find something more interesting and I am not sure how to get him to WANT to please me.
Any tips?
SamanthaTopper Webboard User Reg: 03-24-2011
Posts: 779
Loc: Indianapolis
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There are several reasons for a dog to ignore you.
1) you're not interesting enough
2) the carpet smells better than the treat you're offering
3) you're going too fast and confusion can make dogs distracted
4) avoidance due to stress, fear, anxiety, distrust or all of these options mixed into one.
If he's a new dog (newer than 3 months) give him a break and let him continue to relax and integrate into your family. He'll most likely come around and you can continue trying to use high value food like canned cat food/tuna, bacon, microwaved hot dog slices to entice him to work with you.
If he's not a new dog and you've been raising him as a puppy you might need to evaluate if he's feeling well or if somethings happened that's causing him to display disinterest in you.
ian bunbury Webboard User Reg: 01-19-2012
Posts: 685
Loc: whistler bc ca
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to develop engagement , the dog has to want what you have .
that could be food , in which case you have to plan the dogs intake of food to coincide when you want to have him engaged with you . it may require that he " skips " a meal or two to see you as the supplier of food .
if it is attention , then you might try some social isolation to perk his interest in you as a worthy playmate .
that's a pretty brief summary , but remember , this stuff doesn't happen overnight , and every dog is different .
Michael Soldwisch Webboard User Reg: 02-21-2012
Posts: 146
Loc: Michigan
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There are dogs out there, that work more for toys than for food. Maybe you have one of those. I use a toy, that my dog only gets for a few seconds as a reward. If we are outside of a training session, that particular toy is locked away, and he can't have it.
When I pull that toy out, I have his attention. You just have to find a favorite toy.
Finding that high level reward isn't always the problem. Sometimes it can be avoidance when the dog ignores you or does a lot of sniffing. There can be a lot of reasons but it sometimes comes down to just letting the dog know there can be a consequence for ignoring you.
I'm a huge believer of markers and reward based training but a correction can often bring the dog back to reality. Firmness with fairness!
It can be the same old story ,people have to put the foundation training in which can take a long time. Once the dog knows what focus means and he ignores you he gets corrected. Keep in mind don't rush things.
christy mascari Webboard User Reg: 11-12-2012
Posts: 178
Loc: midwest
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Hi Anna,
keep in mind young dogs have very short attention spans. I would make sure the training sessions last only a few minutes, but do several a day. Be very animated, and try to end them on a positive note. Always leave him wanting more. Set a timer for 2 minutes if you have to, you'd be surprised how quickly time passes. Immediately after a session I'll play frisbee (her favorite) for a few minutes-she works harder knowing there will be frisbee afterwards. This is the only time frisbee comes out, unless I use it as the reward during training. That works for my 2 year old, all dogs are different.
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Getting his attention
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