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05-05-2010, 08:55 AM | #1 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Obedience: focus Anyone have tips for gaining a dog's attention and focus when the dog is distracted and reacting to other stimuli? For instance, when I'm walking Max in the neighborhood and he sees a dog he doesn't like, he will start barking like mad and pulling on the leash. Meeting the other dog is not always an option. How do I get him to focus on me so that I am in control and we can pass the other dog? He won't look at me or pay any attention to me when he is outside and distracted. Edit to add: he will respond to the "sit" command while still barking wildly. Last edited by Maximo; 05-05-2010 at 08:59 AM. |
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05-06-2010, 05:01 PM | #2 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ball Ground, GA
Posts: 1,262
| First teach him to "look." In a quiet place, with no distractions, have him sit in front of you. You can sit on the floor with him in front of you, or on the sofa, even. With one of his favorite cookies, let him follow the path of the cookie to your eye level. When the cookie is at eye level, say "look" and when he meets your eye, speed that cookie to his mouth saying "good boy." When you think he is beginning to understand, then you can intermittently just praise him, slowly. Also, once he has it with you sitting down, practice with you standing. Don't use the "look" command in real life until he really has it down. Once you do take it out, be proactive and try to see the dog or distraction before he does. As soon as you do, tell him to "look" and be sure to treat. Treat it (pun) like he's learning it all over again, using cookies, when you introduce the distractions, before just relying on praise. Always praise when you treat. When I first start training something new, I use extra special treats. Also, the harder it is, the more special the treat. A tip: everytime I give a cookie, I throw in a "here," also. I've saved more than one agility run from an off course by saying that. I've also used the "look" command to keep a dog on course. Good luck.
__________________ Kristan Lizzy's mom |
05-06-2010, 06:48 PM | #3 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: CA,USA
Posts: 1,623
| We use a clicker when we use the command look at me. It seems to get her attention. It's small so you can carry it in your pocket. |
05-07-2010, 08:50 AM | #4 | |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
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05-07-2010, 08:52 AM | #5 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
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05-07-2010, 09:33 AM | #6 |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| This is something I have been working on for years! Yes, years. I even hired a trainer to help. The key is SEE THE OTHER DOG FIRST but that dosent' always happen. Last night we rounded a corner and came face to face with a pit puppy, maybe 7-8mos old. Buddy went crazy and one leg came out of his harness It was embarassing to say the least. If I see the dog first I get his attention with look at me and we get past but if he sees the other dog first a steak would not stop him from attacking! It's really insane. I tried treats but when he get's into that zone there's nothing I can do but drag him down the street and curse under my breath. |
05-07-2010, 10:19 AM | #7 | |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Quote:
Do you use just verbal commands, or do you also use touch -- a shoulder touch or turning his head toward you? Our walking paths are such that I always see the dog coming. I've tried walking confidently with a loose leash so as not to signal that there is any danger. I've tried putting Max in a sit and stay. He sits waiting to go off on the passing dog or person. I've tried treats to distract. He eats them and chokes while barking. I've even tried his favorite Texas Toothpick, a rare treat for him, and he ignores me and the chew. Recently I started picking him up and holding him tightly against my chest while breathing deeply and slowly. We have had about an 85% success rate with that routine, but there are certain people and dogs he has to bark at wildly. I am going to work on "look" (focusing on me) in the house first as suggested above. | |
05-07-2010, 10:31 AM | #8 |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| I taught Buddy look at me from day one. We started out for a sec, then added to that over time until today he will look at me forever, if I let him, until he's released. Outside he's a nut case when he sees a big dog. Only big dogs. Other dogs he loves. Drives me nut's. Loose leash? What's that? I've tried everything. My arm get's so tired of yanking him back to me. I make him sit before I cross the road. When I do make him sit he immediately starts looking for dogs thinking one is coming because I tried that as well, making him sit when a big dog is across the street from us to give him a treat. I stand infront of him to block his view. He ignors the treat and tries his best to look around me at the dog. It's crazy. I have registered him in a group session with other dog's. This should be fun. I think we will get thrown out the first session when he sees the other dogs but I have my finger's crossed being away from his environment he will behave and give big dogs a chance. If this does not work then I guess I'll just give up because there's nothing else I can do. I passed a big dog, don't know the owner, last week and he went looney on me. The owner of the big dog called him a chicken. I laughed because he really is. I don't know who he's trying to impress because when a dog acts like this he's truly is afraid. I have no idea where this fear came from. He never had any kind of encounter with a big dog. |
05-07-2010, 11:07 AM | #9 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Carol, I'm eager to hear how your group session goes with Buddy. Max and I have had scary encounters with large, loose dogs that jumped on me, and I think this has a lot to do with behavior today. However, his reactions to dogs don't seem to be determined by size or breed. He will pass a German Shepherd, but go nuts over a Chow. He will pass a Springer Spaniel, but go nuts over a Beagle. Today he almost passed a Cane Corso, but when the other dog started barking, Max replied with a couple barks that almost sounded like he was saying, "yeah, whatever", lol. |
05-07-2010, 11:13 AM | #10 | |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| Quote:
I mentioned that to our trainer. Regarding his picking and choosing what dogs he wants to be friends with. Her answer was, Don't You do the same. OMG I never thought of that. LOL | |
05-07-2010, 11:19 AM | #11 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
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05-07-2010, 11:25 AM | #12 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: CA,USA
Posts: 1,623
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05-07-2010, 11:35 AM | #13 | |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland
Posts: 2,224
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__________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie | |
05-07-2010, 11:50 AM | #14 | |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| Quote:
I just might get a clicker. It's the only thing I have not tried. Thanks for that infomation. I did use, UGH, like Ceaser does to distract him but he seems to get comfortable eventually with anything then back to his old ways. It's just so frustrating. | |
05-07-2010, 11:51 AM | #15 | |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| Quote:
Good luck with your classes. I hope it works for us as well. | |
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