Approaching your dog while he's in the bark and hold... - Page 1

I am looking for advice on how to prevent my boy breaking his focus on the helper and looking to come back to me during the bark and hold. We have only recently started with this part of his training and he does fine whilst I'm with him, but when I approach from a distance, he starts getting a bit antsy looking back at me and moving away from the helper. Is there anything I can do at home between man work sessions (once a week) that I can do with him to train him to ignore any distractions and focus on the helper, or can this training only be done on the field? I was thinking of getting him to focus on a toy with the command "pas auf" and moving around him with him only getting the toy as reward if I'm able to approach with him focusing only on the toy and not looking back at me. Do you all think this'll work or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Thank you.

the helper should be keeping the dogs focus on him/her!

Back tie him and train more than once a week

It depends on what the reason is that he is losing focus. Is he handler sensitive? Are you coming in straight and calm, or anticipating his behavior and creeping in? Or is he anticipating the reward of the bite in the exercise so he is getting amped and hectic? The helper should be keeping his focus, and if the dog waivers, then the helper needs to read that early and get his attention back. Several sessions, very short, of the dog in the bark and hold, and you just 4 or 5 feet back, coming in and out in the calm straight and purposeful manner. When the dog keeps focus, he immediately gets a bite. IMO this is not something that can be done or practiced at home by yourself. Good luck! Theresa

 Vanessa,

I agree that it is the helper's job to keep the dog's attention on him. That being said, if a dog is handler sensitive, and many are, then the dog must be worked so that he becomes less so. Starting with backtying the dog, with the helper working him in front and you at the dog's shoulder should help. Once the dog gets used to you being there, then you can start moving a bit. Also, you should have someone else in the area, moving around as would a judge. Little by little, and over time, as the dog adjusts and gets more focused on the helper, you begin moving farther back a few steps and then moving forward. You move decisively, but not abruptly. Eventually you let someone else handle the line and you do this same kind of thing. But, it is important that the dog pay attention to the helper. If he does not do that, then the helper should be doing something to help intensify the reaction of the dog to him. It can take some time to fix this problem, but it is important to do it sooner than later. For now, you should never be calling the dog back to you.

Good luck.

Everyone already said I what I would have...you have sound advice from everyone here.

Thank you for the great advice everyone. I'll definitely employ these methods and let you all know how it goes.

it takes 3 to tango, in unison here. helper needs to keep his attention on him, there is nothing you as a handler can do there (and don't try to do anything). The dog will get it eventualy. Try to tie him on a longline to a pole or a fence and try to do it more than once a week for a few minutes. They dog will get it eventualy. Then, you ease yourself into the picture.

Venessa where are you standing when you are doing the bark and hold for the dog to be able to break and come back to you. 

If you are just starting out with this exercise you need to by your dogs side in my opinion - someone holding the long line and the dog be up at the helper.  You are a team and your dog is looking for your support - that is why he is looking at you.  He also could be more worried about you than the helper.  The helper does need to keep the dog focused on him - but it could also be a handler issue and that is why the dog is doing this. 

Yogie Bear