Getting a puppy to pay attention... - Page 1

How do you all get your puppies to pay attention to you instead of the car driving down the street, the rock on the other side of the road, or the pine cone on the side walk? This is a high drive working line pup. He is coming on 14 weeks.

food praise and fun

at 14 weeks, you have about 3 minutes of attention..........

play, ask for attention, play  repeat................

don't overdo it or the pup will sour.

Slice up a hot dog in nickle size and use them as treats. i usally spit them out of my mouth to them every time they look at me .Use a command look. When he looks reward.Then He will stop paying attetion to other things and looking at your mouth for a piece of hot dog.L.o.L.

Its a puppy, let him be a puppy.
Be more fun and exciting than the pine cone, but don't stop him from investigating it first.
The first things I work on is just getting the puppy to know its name and come to me when I call.   I let them explore all they want.  

Just run away from the Puppy and you will get the attention as moving with the pack is very instinctive. When the pup is following just add a whisle or word . you can also reinforce with food ,praise or play at arrival. In no time the whisle or word will trigger a conditioned response.
All the best
Ulf

No no Moons:   you start when pup is in birthing box getting their attention looking at you....I use the CLAP hands system..they come out looking for me when they hear the hands clap..you then go to running from them   clap hands and when they get to you.....good come...or heir.     I use keys, cans with dog food in them  making noise to look up to...then sit pup and give the tiny weiny treat...then after a few weeks of getting their attention to that..move the treat to your nose...clap hands to get attention to them then act like a clown....noise and actions get attention...reward keeps them coming back.

A constant routine of this does the trick...My pups sit and look at me for long  long  long time...increase the time by keeping a  noise up front of them and keep their eye on treat...Do not make it longer than they seem to stay attentive...do not let them break...you be ready the time you think they are going to break and immediately give treat and praise...act stupid and like a child or a clown...My neighbors in town probably thought I had lost   ALL my marbles when they saw me working puppies..even grown dogs like you to act up to get them invigorated.

IT WORKS.  command, action , correction praise.

HOTDOGS, TIMING, LOTS OF ENERGY, PAITENCE.

Food rewards are great, so is play time
Timing is everything don't reward before or after the desired effect... but don't wait to long either. Start small, short, quick.
Energy... be animated and have fun
Paitence, Paitence, Paitence... training is a lifetime commitment.

Michael
www.woodhauskennels.com

A good trainer taught me an easy way to get puppy's attention.  Sit in front of the pup with a scrumptious treat in both hands.  Slowly pull hands apart and puppy will follow the treats, looking from one to the other, confused but interested.  Don't need to say a word, just wait until he looks at your face, wanting direction on how to get a treat.  As soon as he looks at you, use your marker word and treat immediately.  No correction, all positive and he always gets the treat, works like a charm.  After a while, when he's looking at you first, add your "look" marker word.

Wherever you are going to "play" work your puppy, give him a few minutes of free time to sniff, look, pee around. If he knows his surroundings, he won't be so curious about them once they are old hat. I wish my puppy would bound out of his kennel and go sniff a pinecone. He's up my butt and I have to lock him out of his kennel so I can clean it EVERY time, even with a full food dish and toys on the ground in the free backyard.

When I do sits and downs with my baby, I use a tennis ball right now. He will jump over the moon for it. You just have to find out what flps your pups cookie. If he isn't into treats, skip a meal and try again.