training focus - Page 1

How do you all train for focus in obedience? Do you like to have the dog focus on a toy, or do you want the dog focusing on you at all times?

always focusing on the handler. if he's focused on the toy then he's anitcipating that reward comming out and isn't truely looking at you for direction and that can get him out of position and a number of other problems. when you use a toy i would suggest looking at the Ivan Balabanov dvd and doing it that way. the toy is used for rewaed but never for them to focus on. he always has the dogs focused on him.

I have the dog focus on my face.  I use the method where you spit hotdogs to start,  eventually switch to a ball or tug reward, but the dog must always focus on my face from the moment I say "fus" until I give him a release cue.

I teach the dog eye contact gets the reward. I don't believe Ivan teaches strictly eye contact from the beginning. I could be wrong, but as always it depends on the individual dog. Some dogs naturally want to have eye contact or focus on the handler. Some are completly ADD and need some help. Some dogs get obsessive about the toy.

My new dog falls into the ADD category. I teach the idea of head up towards the face = reward, then gradually take the toy out of the equation and teach them eye contact gets them to the toy. I advise most new handlers to do it this way as it is usually easier for the handler.  Teaching eye contact from the beginning is more difficult esp for the ADD dogs. When the dog gets the idea and the handler gets more comfortable and better timing, then remove the toy and go to eye contact.

Again depends on the dog. Each one is different and benifits from different technuiqes.

 if you've ever talked to Ivan he always starts out his dogs with eye contact. he believes you should NEVER lure your dog into eye contact with a toy...  but that's just one mans theory on dog training.

i think it is up to the handler as to what they dicide is best FOR THE DOG not necessarily what they'd like to teach as all dogs are different and some learn better with different training styles.

When I get a chance (I say when because I will make it a point to someday) train with Ivan, I will ask and be all ears as to how to teach the ADD dogs to focus without the help of a toy. It will make me a better trainer because I can't do it with these kinds of dogs.

I am all for taking out any extra step to streamline the process whenever possible.

AIR,

my younger dog (Erko von der Zahnburg) is 9 months and we`ve been together for 2 months and a half, but he already knows for sure: no eye contact - no toy or treat. And I can see he likes this game! 

And as Erko is obviously becoming a strong and dominant male, I try to talk to him and communicate with him more when he is just near me at home and here eye contact is also very important.

I've been trying to teach an ADD dog to focus when out walking, but she's not getting it. She will watch when we are sitting, not moving forward. As soon as we start moving she's not paying attention; she's looking for other dogs or anything else to focus on. How do you maintain their attention when moving? My other dog learned it much faster, but she doesn't have as "intense" a personality.  Maybe I just need to be more patient? When I taught her how to "heel" originally I just expected her to be right next to me, not neccessarily watching me.

I start with a toy for very young pups, then over time pull the toy out of the picture and reward for the dog looking at me. I will not teach a watch from heel position until the dog knows how to keep their rear end tucked in, I cannot stand that diagonal heeling stuff where you knee your dog in the shoulder every other step.