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| ATTENTION PLEASE (By
Kathy Diamond Davis) |
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| Life is full of distractions,
especially for a puppy or dog! When
you have a dog who won't pay
attention to you while on walks or
at the park, or even at home, an
obedience class is definitely in
order. Try your nearest obedience
training clubs, which have classes
taught by knowledgeable and
dedicated volunteers. These classes
are often the best deals in town.
You can find the clubs nearest you
on the AKC website, where they are
listed by state.
For handling your dog around
other dogs, the best method is to
teach your dog to ignore them.
Stationary exercises do not work as
well for this as moving exercises.
If you teach her to give attention
to you when you say her name, you
can eventually develop the ability
to get and hold her attention
anytime you wish. With attention
(and EYES) on you, she simply has
none left to get overexcited about
the other dog. |
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HERE IS THE
PROCEDURES.
- Have treats on your person
(later you may use a toy
instead, but it helps to start
with tiny, tempting treats, lots
of tiny pieces), but keep them
out of the dog's sight. To
initiate the attention sequence,
say "[Dog's Name]!" and YOU MOVE
ABRUPTLY away from her. If you
want to say "Heel" or "Come" or
"Front" or "By Me," that's fine
too. The main thing is, say the
name--this is going to become
the word on which she will learn
to look at you--then MOVE.
- When she moves with you,
quickly PRAISE her. This is
where you would use a clicker if
you wish to use that method, but
a word of praise is fine, too.
Then instantly whip out a treat
and give it to her. Do not show
the treats until you are ready
to give one. This prevents the
treat from becoming, in the
dog's mind, an actual part of
the command--or a bribe. Each
time you give a treat, align it
between the dog's eyes and
yours. You want eye contact from
her with that treat. Soon you
will find her seeking your eye
contact. Always praise her when
she does that, and it's fine to
give her a "free" treat for
doing it.
- Okay, you're not done. When
you do this sequence, always do
at least 3 to 5 in a row. That
means each time you 1) say the
name, 2) move, 3) praise, 4)
whip out a treat and 5) give it.
This doesn't necessarily take up
a bunch of space, since you want
it all to happen very fast. The
movement is not over a great
distance. You can move one
direction the first time, back
the other way the second time,
etc. But always at least 3 to 5
repetitions in a row before you
release the dog's attention.
This is what teaches her to
SUSTAIN that attention on you
until you release it.
- Practice this exercise
everywhere, including at
obedience class. You can do this
with a toy, especially once you
have taught it to her. But don't
rush to get away from the food.
Food is the easiest thing to
deliver with this split-second
timing, and will greatly help
you in establishing the pattern
of attention.
- By always praising before
you give the treat, you are also
building up your praise in the
dog's mind. This will allow you
later to praise at that correct
moment, and be able to deliver
the treat (or toy) a bit later
(when you have to walk across
the room to get one, for
example) while the praise
maintains the continuity in the
dog's mind between the action
and the reward.
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This ability to get the dog's
attention any time you want it will
serve you when working her around
other dogs. Not only will you be
able to control her, but if you are
consistent about taking her
attention off the other dogs EVERY
time she gets too interested, you
will find that the sight of another
dog will start causing her to look
at you! Praise this, of course!
Many people believe that
socializing a dog with other dogs is
for the goal of creating a dog who
can just play with any dog she
meets, anywhere, anytime. This is
not a realistic goal for many dogs,
especially after maturity. A much
more reasonable goal for her is to
teach her to pay attention to you
when working around other dogs, and
ignore them. You'll notice at dogs
shows, this is how the experienced
handlers manage their dogs. It's not
like a big dog park with all the
dogs playing together.
The attention exercise is not
extremely time-consuming. Just take
a few moments and do it with her in
every location where you go
together. It's surprising how
quickly it becomes habit for the dog
to look at you when you say her
name--and equally habit for you to
positively reinforce her every time
she gives you her attention. People
will comment on how much your dog
loves you, and the obvious bond
between the two of you--and they'll
be right! |
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| If you
have other questions or comments, that you
would like to share, please contact us via
E-Mail. |
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