I just got my copy of Bernard's video, and what can I say... excellent!

But I would like some clarification on one point. In the video, Itor is incredibly focused on his ball. It's obviously a toy that he has much drive for, and Bernard has developed that. But Itor's focus is on the *toy* and not on the *handler*.

How do you get the dog to focus on the handler? Do you start building focus by getting the dog to focus on the toy, and then switch to handler? Otherwise, if the dog pays attention to only the toy, how does the handler command the dog's attention when no toy is present? I suppose that's easy if the dog *thinks* you have a toy, but what if the dog sees the toy lying on the ground some distance from the handler... how to redirect the focus to you?

Yvette

Yvette
We just had this discussion last wek.
Ed says the dog will auto transfer from the ball to the trainers eys when the ball is gone. Ill try to find the discussion and let you know were it is.
Ron

Yvette
I cant find it, but ere is the jest of the posts.
You hold the ball in front of the dog as on the tape, as soon as the dog looks to your eyes you give the toy. then slowly insist on the dog watching your eyes longer befor giving the toy etc.
However as I said Ed says to train the same way but with the dog getting the toy when he watches the toy and after he is good at it , if you take the toy away, the dog will look to the eyes automaticly waiting for you to produce the toy. I hope that isnt to confusing.
Ron

Building drive is building drive and developing attention is developing attention. It's ok for the dog to focus on the ball when building the drive for the ball. Attention is taught separately. After drive for the ball is sufficeintly strong you move on to developing attention with the motivator (ball). The ball is held in plain sight of the dog. The second the dog looks you in the eye you give a release comand and allow the dog to bite the ball. You play and then comand release. Tease the dog with the ball, allow him to try to get it, you try to keep it away. Move into a direction that will place the dog into heal position and move out with a fuss. Second the dog looks you in the eye you give the release comand and alow him to bite the ball and play again. The you keep demanding 1 second longer attention and then two seconds and so on before her gets the reward. Each time he gets the reward it is after your release comand which was triggered by his attention to your eyes. If you release him while he is looking at the ball after you gave him the attention comand you will slow his learning and cause confusion.

Yvette, check your PMs.

No, no, no, no. . .Lee post your comments. None of this hidding in the PM zone.

You wuss <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

The tape you just watched is the very beginning of this training style. The obsession for the toy is teaching the dog to focus. When you reach a point that the toy is hidden you can transfer it to the eyes very easily by putting the dog into the sit, then moving the toy behind your back or in your jacket. As soon as the dog looks at your eyes reward the dog with the toy. It doesn't take too long for the dog to realize that if he can't see the toy, asking you with his eyes will producee it. The only way the dog becomes obsessed with the jacket or the armpit is when that is what you reward him for. If you demand eye contact and your dog is in high drive your dog will want to get his reward by any means possible.

You start in small steps, and when adding a distraction or a new behavior it is easier for the dog if you back up and bring the toy back into view. Once the dog is understanding the behavior you hide the ball again.

There will be more videos coming out that detail the steps that go beyond drive focus and grip... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I think you know where to get them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Trust me, this works. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />