Elhart K9’s training eye contact with a puppy. This is a very important part of bonding with your dog in order to help shape leash walking and keeping your dog focused on you while out in public.
This exercise should be taught in a quite space and either on a leash so the dog doesn’t walk away or as I have done, in a small area.
Food in hand and do not move the hand during this exercise unless you are rewarding eye contact.
Wait on your puppy and the first time as with this puppy, it may take up to 5 mins for them to finally look at you.
Once you get this eye contact, no matter how brief, mark it with a verbal cue yes or good and then give the food in your hand. If the puppy loves their food, just use their kibble…if they need more motivation, use some cooked chicken or beef. Something with a good smell to keep their attention.
No other talking is required as you don’t want to call the dog during this exercise. The point is for them to choose to look at you.
As you can see, Roxy gets faster and faster in between rewards as she has learned that she gets the food for looking at me. Pretty soon, this exercise done constantly, she will get faster and eventually look at me right away!
We then transfer this excercise to an area with more distractions and then outside to incorporate with loose leash walking.
If you haven’t built value in yourself, you cannot expect them to want to watch you during a walk which is often why dogs pull!
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Puppy
