training focus - Page 2

I think the best thing to do is make sure the dog UNDeRSTANDS that no matter where the reward is, he does not get it without FOCUS on you.   You should be able to place the reward in front of the dogs face while he is focused on you.  You need to help him understand what you want.  Without understanding on both sides,  the training is worthless.  You might as well put the ball in your armpit and make it look like he is focused on you. 

I don't think the diagonal heeling problems are neccessarily caused by the dog focusing on your eyes, but I've not had to deal with that particular problem,  I've seen it so I know what you mean.  I'm thinking that it's caused by having the dog focus on the ball in the hand or the old trick of holding the ball under your chin maybe.  It looks pretty bad with the dog sort of interfering with handlers forward movement, and seems like a very difficult habit to break.  I know people who have resorted to sticking nails through a dog collar and strapping it on their left leg to try to solve that problem, but even that doesn't seem to work very well.

What is the title of the Ivan B dvd with the focus training on it?Also ,Don Corleon you say about putting the ball under your armpit but Bernard Flinks does it just like that and it seems to work.Can you elaborate a bit please.This is only a question,no malace  of any kind intended .Thanks

Dominic

I can't think of the title off hand, but he always has an ad in Sch usa mags or go to his website. 

As to your other question, I think that everyone must go to Seminars, watch videos, read books, and put together what you believe to be the best methods.  I like a lot of the stuff Flinks does for building drive.  However, when it comes to where I put my reward, I side with Ivan.  I don't think that I need to manipulte the dog by placing the ball under my chin or in my armpit.  It won't be there on trial day, so why in training?  I don't like to gimmick(sp) train.  I would rather train the dog to understand that I want focus, what focus is and how to be focused.  I don't like to trick dogs into doing an exercise.  I would rather show them right and wrong.  That is how they view things and that is how I like to approach training. 

I think all of the professionals have something to offer.  Sometimes you can come away with numerous things learned from a seminar.  Sometimes it's very little.  I don't think you should take everyone's word  and method as gospel.  I know people like that.  They go to a seminar every few months and that is the new way to train.  Their dogs are so screwed up, that they would be better never going to a single seminar.

Thank you,that does make sense.I would'nt mind seeing Ivans dvd cause i dont really like the ball under the armpit.Thanks again DC

I use Ivan's methods and have had TOTAL success with all of our dogs. It make for very happy working dogs. I got the videos from Ray Allen.

It is called.."obedience without conflict". There are 2 DVD's. Here is the link to the page with the DVD's, just scroll down a little bit and you will see them.

http://www.rayallen.com/ramCart/cartFrame.htm

  JYL Thank you  very much for the link.