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ItsaWonderfulDogsLife.com Featured Article
Dog Training - Easy Guide on How to Get Your Dog's
Attention
By Andy J Jones
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.
Author Bio: The author has been
writing articles for many years. Check out his
current website
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