Quote: Kory Fox

O.K. I'm going to try some of these things before I try to post a video. He's doing slightly better the last two sessions, but still quite distracted and not focusing like I need him to. I didn't take that much time at first getting him to focus while standing still but he does do that now pretty well. It's just when I start moving that he usually loses focus on me. The spinning has now pretty much stopped for no apparent reason and the forging is not as bad, but the lack of focus is still pretty bad. I'll try some of the suggestions and see how that goes.

" It's just when I start moving that he usually loses focus on me."

Then don't move yet. And when you do, start with one step.

Don't keep moving if it's not how you want it.

I agree with Joe here:

 Quote: Joe Waddington

I worked on the attention phase for a long time before I started moving with any steps. .... If your dog cannot pay attention to you while standing still and while under distraction he won't be able to pay attention while your moving. ....

Even just simple loose-leash, beginning practice for me might be just one step, two steps ....

In this case, what I am picturing -- I would not be moving yet. Focus on me, and then position with focus on me would be marked and rewarded, and gradually I would increase the duration before m&r. This is before ever taking a step. And then it would be one step, m&r.

I'd make sure I had this behavior chain perfect in each link. Focus first (just focus!), then focus in the heel position, and gradual increases in duration. I'd be m&r very frequently. Then one step, and m&r.

Are you doing this in a totally distraction-free area? What is taking her attention?

Connie, It's not so much a distraction as much as it seems that once I start to take the smallest step, he thinks the excersize is over and it's time to go for a walk, or check out what's on the ground or whatever. He's getting better about it but I guess I'll back up and just work on focus on me for longer periods of time and then work on movement.

OK, I getcha. I wish we could see even a short video clip, because now I wonder about the timing of the marker.

One step, just one step, is enough to m&r. Then he's done; you have marked and rewarded and it's over (for now). Even if you must m&r in mid-stride, that's OK for now, IMO.

I would do this often throughout the day, but still, just the one (maximum two) steps. I need his attention, and it's easy to keep it for that short time.

The position is already taught. That is, I'm not combining the position training with the movement when I take that first step. Just getting him into position and taking the step. Not much time or opportunity for him to sniff the ground, look around, or anything but focus on me and take one step, which is quickly marked and rewarded.

I use happy praise, good rewards, and short sessions .... with zero distraction at this point.

Watch at about 54 - 58 seconds how minimal the step forward is before the m&r.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56cojEaFmDs&feature=relmfu


JMO!

As Connie said, "One step, just one step".

I would have no problem luring, using the food or toy with that one step if it will keep the dog from breaking. Once he gets it then drop the luring.
Do you use a bridge to let him know he's doing good with what your asking? A simple, calm "gooood dog" taught even with the stationery sit can be a big help as long as it's not over worked and becomes a crutch. Same with the luring.
Ditto on the sniffing and looking around. He has to break his focus on you and if that happens your not going to get that first step. EVERYTHING starts with that focus on you!

Have you tried slowly adding duration varying the frequency of reward, make multiple drops in a row then sometimes 5 seconds, then 10, 15 back to multiples keeping your dogs interest, and slowly adding distraction.

Distractions for us were simple like slapping my hand on my leg, moving my arms out to my side, lifting my leg, dropping a ball off to the side or tossing it out front, well the ball was a tough one for Zoey, and the simple things in the beginning for her/us were enough to see her want to look away at what ever it was.

I works hard at it so I can now take her favorite reward the ultra chuck it ball (crack cocaine) or food and wave it back and forth in front of her face with her eyes focused on mine.

I'm making some progress now. I figured out one thing that helps, by accident. The other day, I had a very long work day so I asked my wife to feed Marco for me before I got home. After I showered and chilled out a little, I decided to work on the heeling. He was much more calm and focused after eating. I had previously only done it when I knew he was hungry, but he's such a huge chow hound, it seems to work better when he's not so hungry. I also tried something else the last couple of days just to see how it might work. My wife and I wanted to walk Marco and our adult female lab. Walking together did not work. They are not normally allowed to interact hardly at all so Marco was way too excited. I could barely walk him. So, my wife went ahead and we did laps up and down our 1'4 mile long driveway. I just kept waiting for him to look up at me, mark reward. I did it over and over until he spent more time looking at me for rewards than paying attention to what was going on around him. Crossing past my wife and Daisy was still a big distraction,which I expected but it got better each time until he started paying very little attention to them. We did it again tonight and them crossing is still tough at first, which I expect but it got better quicker tonight than the first day we tried it.

Ah, yes: I have one I have to feed a little first, and I've had one who needed to skip a meal before FST.

Nice distraction work!!