Focus - Page 1

Frequently, in obedience competition videos, you will see the dog has its eyes glued on its handler, and is almost touching the handler, with its head turned inwards.

This is very different from when we're taking our dogs for a casual walk, to get some exercise.

How do you get the dog to differentiate between the two situations? How do you get it 'switched on' to that degree? Definitely not punishment: often you will see a dog wagging its tail while doing an OB routine, whether Sch. or AKC/CKC.

I always figured it was the ball hidden in the handlers jacket, I also often wondered if the dog would walk right into a hole if the handler let it.
My dog will look at me but mostly out of the corner of her eye,  I don't like a dog that close to me when we are in motion.
I am more an awareness sorta guy myself.
It is impressive to watch tho, kind of like watching a roller pidgeon almost hit the ground.   I have seen them hit the ground.
Not knocking this sort of focus, I only wonder about its function when judges are not watching.

My dogs have a walk nicely on  a lead command and then they have the "walk to heel never taking your eyes off me" command; the ball is contingent on the behaviour, not the other way around; I can get this behaviour whenever I ask it with or without a ball on my body! 

It is all down to training.

Well I do believe the dog knows the difference and whats going on, work or fun, without being told.

Focus needs to be built, this takes time; once the dog understands the behaviour that is required you then increase the duration.

Most people fail to do the groundwork properly a) getting the dog hooked on food or ball which ever is the greatest reinforcer for the dog and b) moving before the dog will sit in the basic position for two minutes whilst bombs are going off around you.

ps you will not get top marks in either obedience or Schutzhund for a dog working in a "natural manner" and in any case this term, like many, is purely subjective! :D

You may get penalised for it in Working Trials, but there are only 5 marks for this in the top stake!

I heard one judge state that in the future, they are not going to be so looking for these 'star gazers' as he put it, but will be less demanding on the intensity of focus.  For a long time I thought it a funny way of heeling, like Two Moons, I often wondered if the dog could even see where it was going.  I've become much more used to it now, and in fact find it lovely to watch, when done with style.

Anyone else hear this?

I agree with Langhaar.  When I say "fus" my dog knows that means one thing every time, regardless of where I am.  The ball is only a tool, used to teach, move the dog into correct position, and to keep him in drive.  Once the dog learns this you remove the ball.  If the dog will not work unless he thinks you have the ball then your foundation is faulty and you need to go back and start basic position over.  

I always still have a ball or tug when I am training.  It's not to "fool" the dog.  It's so that when I need to correct him, I can bring the ball out right after to bring his drives right back up.  When I leave the field it's always with my dog holding his tug or ball and me playing tug with him as we run off the field, this is very rewarding to the dog,  the last thing he remembers and associates the field with is him being in drive and having fun, no matter how much pressure I used  during that session.  It's also because if every time you come out on the field all you do is fus and train hard with no reward or release for the dog, he will eventually become bored and flat. 

Moons, I think your right.  My dog can tell by my body language when its time for a stroll and when he needs to  focus for some heeling work.  I know that probably doesn't help much, but I've worked with him enough that he "just knows".