Building handler focus ? - Page 1

How can i build handler focus with my 8 month old bitch ?

Thank you for any replies they are very much aprecciated

What I am doing with my 14 week old pup, (Very Food Driven), is teaching him to watch me. I will have a treat in my right hand, and I take my hand and move it all the way to the right. My pup watches the food and then I will say "WATCH ME" as soon as he takes his eye off the food and looks at me, he gets a treat. You can also use a favorite toy, or ball. I hope that this helps, if not, does anyone else have any suggestions? Dawn

Good method Dawn, to start though I would have the pup watch the treat and then bring it to eye contact. Then the pup gets his goodie. After she has that down I would move to getting her attention off the treat and onto me.

I would also reward an effor the dog made to make eye contact on its own Eventually, you can hold food in your hand and wait for the dog to check your face and then reward with the treat.. I hold food in my mouth because once they find that is where the treat comes from then become much more persistent and yes, I do spit food - more like a dribble really.... You can do the same things with toys too..... whip them out of your pocket, your shirt sleeve.. make things unpredictable... tease the dog and quick pout the toy away and then ask for another behavior... reward at various times with the toy or food.. mix it up and keep the dog always thinking at any given moment something good could come from you...

DIKIAH -- a very very nice explanation -- i would add -- EVERY PLACE AND EVERY TIME !! my dog looks away from something else to me -- especailly another dog i Give a food [ or bite tug pending on the dog] reward -- WHEN WE TRAIN OUR OBEDIENCE THERE ARE SOMETIMES 7 R 8 DOGS DOING THE EXERCISES RIGHT BESIDE EACH OTHER -- EVEN PUPS -- THEY WILL SOON LEARN WHERE THER VANTAGE LIES -- patience and time will get you to undivided interaction /eye contact no matter what -- that is the concpet i teach eye to eye no matter what , where

Gee, my old Fero grandaughter makes eye contact continually. If I offered a treat each time she would be tremendous in size! She is always waiting for ME to make eye contact. Of course is it due to her respect for me, but it is a fact that she is always watching to see whether I will lose track of her true intentions. Sneaky old woman, her. I agree 100% with the methods presented. They work very well with a puppy/dog of any age. Bob-O