5 BASIC STEPS TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOU- PART 2
HOW DO CATCH YOUR DOG’S ATTENTION?
Use a command prompt, teach your dog a positive association with the prompt. For example, use the prompt “come” paired with his name in a controlled environment. once he gets that, then test the same prompt on him with distractions. The goal here is to make your dog comes to you every time he hears this prompt.
Rehearse these activities often, make the training session short and fun to keep your dog’s interest. The key is to teach him to respond and come to you immediately the first time. Avoid repeating the prompt “come” more than once. Only reward him the first time he obeys the prompt command, so he learned he will not be rewarded if he does not pay attention to you when you call the first time.
HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO LOOK AND FOCUS ON YOU?
Use a focus prompt. The “look” prompt teaches your dog to concentrate on you with eye to eye connection. Practice using the prompt “look” paired with your dog’s name. You might need to combine this prompt with a hand command, such as pointing at your eyes. The visual hand command reinforces the “look” prompt. You can effectively discharge your dog from the gaze by putting your hand down.
Usually, treat gets the dog’s attention straight away. Show your dog a treat and bring it near to your nose. Call his name combined with the “look” prompt, the moment his eyes meet yours, state “yes” and reward him. Ensure that your dog knows he only gets the reward when he is looking in your eyes, not at the treat.
Another way to get your dog’s attention is to use the “contact” prompt. This involves teaching your dog to make contact by touching your hand with his nose. Use one hand to hold the treat and let the dog smell the treat, then swap and hold the treat on your other hand. Place the hand that held the treat before which still has the treat smell under your dog’s nose. The moment his nose reaches out to your hand to either sniff or lick and touches it, state “yes” right then and there and reward him with the treat.
This is an effective method to get your dog focus back to you when strolling on a leash, particularly in a situation when your dog is distracted and starts barking, jumping at other passing dogs or people.
HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO FOLLOW YOU?
In order to practice this training effectively, in the beginning, you will find it easier to train your dog in a calm and protected area.
One approach to motivating your dog to follow you is by utilizing treats. Come down to your dog’s level, let him see and smell the treat in your hand. Then walk away from him. Use a command word, like “follow” paired with his name. If your dog responded to the prompt and follow you, reward him with the treat.
On the off chance that your dog doesn’t follow, utilize the treat to draw him, tempt your dog to come nearer and keep walking slowly until he follows you. On the off chance that your dog backs off or stop, push forward more rapidly to urge him to follow and come closer to you.
On the off chance that your dog advances beyond you, stop and swing to stroll in the opposite way. Then use the command word “follow” paired with his name. This exercise is to teach your dog to focus and follow you. So if he goes off and walks to the left side, you should walk the opposite side of him and again use the prompt to get him to follow you.
The importance of this training is to teach your dog to follow you, not you following him!
HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO TUNE IN WHEN THERE ARE DISTRACTIONS?
To make this part of the training a success, the first thing is to make sure your dog gives your near-perfect attention in a safe and quiet environment on his own first. Then only slowly bring in one or two dogs into the exercise to let him get used to having others around and he still able to tune in and listen to you. Then after that, train him in an environment where there are some cars and noise. Then gradually advance to more open space with all sorts of distractions until you are happy that he is comfortable and can be trusted in an open and natural environment.
For your dog to be good with distractions, practice and train him with distractions. Remember to make the training interesting. Always be positive, praise and reward your dog to reinforce the behavior.
HOW TO BE A HAPPY DOG OWNER – START WITH THE EASIEST 1-2-3 AND STEP UP FROM HERE!
To make training easier for you and your dog, try starting with these 3 simple dog obedience commands first.
SIT-hold a treat and place it near your dog’s nose. Then start moving your hand up, enable his head to pursue the treat and making his base lower. Use command word “sit”, when his in sitting position, give him the treat and show love.
COME – Put your dog on a leash. lower yourself to his level and use command word “come”, then tenderly and slowly pulling on the leash. If your dog comes to you, reward him with a treat, praise him and give him a big hug.
STAY – To begin with, cue your dog into a “sit” position. At that point give your dog a hand “stop” sign with the palm of your hand towards him. Rather than giving your dog the treat straight away, hold for a couple of moments. Use the command word “stay” and if he obeys you, rewards him there and then. Progressively extend the time span your dog remains in the sit position. Then gradually extend the distance.
Do these exercises in various locations – different places in the house, inside and outside, the neighborhood park and other places. Your dog might break a stay occasionally. If this happens, go back to basics. Like, make the stay shorter, eliminate any distractions, or stand near him-and attempt again.
The aim of this article is to give you some basic steps you can practice to train your dog to focus and pay attention to you – Happy dog, happy owner! Good luck with your training!
