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The first thing to do when trying to train your dog is to get your dog’s attention. It may sound obvious, but so many people miss this step. It is the most important thing you can teach your dog, as you need him to want to listen to you. If his mind is elsewhere, he will not learn.
Throughout his entire life, if you are ever having difficulties, come back to this basic principle. Can you get your dog’s attention? If not, you are likely to experience some difficulties in that situation.
Therefore, we will work through
1. What are you teaching? You to teach your dog that when you his name, it means ‘look at me, something interesting is going to happen’.
2. Begin in a relatively quiet environment, free from distractions. Find a quiet place.
3. Show your dog a piece of really interesting food. Have some treats in a small pot or in a pocket, out of your dog’s reach, holding only one piece in your hand at any time.
4. Use this as a lure to show your dog what you want. Find ways to encourage him to do it himself, Your dog should now be looking at you. Well done, he has already been successful.
5. Immediately your dog does as you want, reward him with the food and a fuss. Reward him.
6. At this stage, do not give your dog any words of command.
7. Repeat several times, until your dog is performing the action reliably. Then begin to say your word as the dog is doing the action, Begin to say his name before rewarding him.
8. Show your dog the treat and say your word. Reward him. No lures are necessary, just repeat several times.
9. Progress until you can say the word and your dog will repeat the action without following your hand. This should be easy to achieve.
10. Start varying the rewards. Use a different or less interesting reward sometimes; at other times, have the treat in your hand but give him only a fuss and praise as reward, as soon as he does what you ask. Continue to practice.
11. Gradually and randomly vary and decrease the rewards given. This means that your dog does not know when or with what he will be rewarded, He needs to respond to find out. Your dog should be confident that his name means ‘look at me to find out what nice things we are going to do together’.
12. Progress to repeating this sequence in different places, with an increasing number of distractions, This is where it becomes more difficult, but it is so important. Practise in many different situations. These will include:
In the house:
• with no distractions
• when a visitor has been here for a little while
• when a visitor first arrives
• when the doorbell rings
On a walk:
• with no distractions
• with a person or dog in the distance
• with a person or dog nearby
• when greeting a person or dog
• In the car
• In the garden
If you find that your dog cannot look at you when you ask, it is unlikely he will be able to do anything else for you. Always go back to this simple premise, which you taught your puppy right from the start.
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