matt schmidt Webboard User Reg: 01-10-2005
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Loc: Los Angeles
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I started doing the exercise demonstrated by Bernhard where you build his drive, and then put him in a sit as you hold it over him. Then you slide over (just in front of him) and slowly move the prey item to the left and right to get him focusing on it before you drop it.
Early in his training, I started and continue to do the "Watch" command. I'll put him in a sit and have him watch me, and I'll distract him with various means. One is to wave my hands. Another is to put a treat in front of his nose and then move it to the side, and he needs to stay watching me and not the treat.
I think he is confusing this with focusing on the tug. He focuses dead on it, but when I move it side to side he stays staring at me. Occasionally, he will start to look to the side with the tug, but he quickly focuses back at my face because he thinks he needs to watch me.
I don't think you have a problem. I'm a relative newbie, but as I understand it, you use the prey item to teach focus at a young age because its much easier for a pup/dog to focus on something it really wants and it starts to learn the foundations for later things. Much like teaching numbers to a child before you teach addition and subraction, its the easiest for the pups mind to comprehend what's happening. Once a pup shows good focus on the prety item, you then transfer that focus on to the handlers eyes since that is what all handlers are going for in the end. We want the dog focusing on your eyes, not the prey item. I'd think if your pup is showing good focus already and is focusing on your face and has good drives, who cares if he's not focused on the toy anymore, you're ahead of the game. I'f I'm misunderstanding, i'm sure someone will be along shortly to set us both on the right course.
matt schmidt Webboard User Reg: 01-10-2005
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Loc: Los Angeles
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I thought the idea was to get him focused on the prey object? Bernard's adult dog completely followed the prey item? ANy thoughts? I wnat him to focus on the prey item, but I want him to be able to focus on me when he is in a watch as well?
it depends on how you teach your dog to get his success. I think in this case your dog has learned that focusing on your face will bring success. Bernhard's dogs focused on the prey item because they've learned that that brings success.
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Focus confused with Watch command
#77230 - 06/24/2005 12:43 PM 
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