September Training Challenge - Focus

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I guess we've agreed to give the monthly training assignment another try.  For September the challenge is "Focus and Attention".  This is foundational to much of our other training.  I agreed to take a look through some of my training books and share some of the "tips" on improving focus.  Actually most of what I read is very similar and positive reinforcement is common denominator. 

-One method begins with feeding the dog.  For a few days place your dog's food out of their reach and just stand quietly.  At some point the dog will look to you for help...or just out of frustration.  As soon as that happens, mark (click if you're clicker training) and immediately give the reward (the food).  I started this with my guys a couple days ago.  I am varying the length of the look now, waiting longer before they get their food (about 30 seconds).

-The goal is a calm and intense stare.  The dog is learning self control and focus on you....keys to effective training.

-Next step would be to hold a treat, show the dog, then hold it away from your body.  When they understand the exercise they will know that looking at you releases the treat....looking at the food does not.  I just started this one.  Guinness got it right away.....Murph is having a little more difficulty.  He's tending to continue staring at the food.  We're doing this exercise here at home for now.  We will need to take it outside and to the park and places of higher distraction.  For me the ultimate test will be Petco.

-I found this helpful...

It is important to remember that dogs are very specific in their understanding of situations, a command for sit in your living room with a cookie in your hand is different to a command to sit at a busy pet store.  This is why we need to take the dog to lots of different places so that he can learn to generalize his reaction to a command.  Also remember to do focus work with the dog beside you as well as in front.  This will help with the heel position.  Once you are getting constant "eye contact" you may add the verbal command like "look" or "watch me". 

The command that I'm using is "look".  I'm using it now a lot throughout the day.  What has been really effective is using it when we play ball.  I put the ball behind my back, tell them look, when I get eye contact then I throw it.

So, I hope this information is helpful.  None of this is "rocket science", so there are many different ways to approach this.  Please share any insights that you've received from your trainers or in you own reading. 

Let's use this discussion to post questions and progress.  Please include videos and I think that is so helpful to everyone else. 

[Kyoko]

Awesome!! Looks like he is having so much fun!

[Dori & Rua]

Both vidoes are amazing...especially Carolyn Scott & Rookie!  That will NOT be me & Rua.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

WOW!!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

This is brilliant. By chance I started this with Riley a few days ago and started by putting the treat just above my eyes.  When he looks at me I click and treat.  Now I don't have to do that and am just saying look and  am getting eye contact. I just need him to hold it for longer periods of time.  This project should help with everything else that we are doing regarding training and it will help me to "focus" too so thank you.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Murph and I have been working on focus for the past week or two, and he's been doing well.  Today we decided it was time to introduce some real tough distractions to see how he would do.  My trainer asked a new client with a highly reactive (recently adopted) German Shepard if she would be willing to work with us out on the bike path.  This is a dog who has not been out of his yard since he was adopted...he was pretty much living on his own in a junkyard of a rural town in CT.  He has been way too reactive and untrustworthy for the owner to take him anywhere....so he's never been on a walk.  Our objective with Murph was that he would be able to walk by this dog without reacting....just by focusing on me.  We have been able to control Murph's reactiveness with other dogs, but up until today there were corrections involved....avoidance of the correction was his motivation.  Today our goal was that as soon as he saw the dog I would bring his focus to me, let him smell a treat in my hand, walk by the dog and if he did not react he would get the treat.  My challenge was to never even look at the other dog or think about her no matter what HER reaction was...all my focus had to be on engaging Murphy.  The worst part was that this took some coordination on my part....and I have NO coordination.  But we did it.  We walked by this dog over and over and Murph ignored her and kept his focus on me the whole time....priceless.  By the end of the hour, we were walking together, side by side (Guinness, Murph, and the GSD).  Then we stopped and had them sit with their backs to each other.  They did that too.  I really though the woman who owned the GS was going to cry.  The real benefit for Murph was that we are beginning to change his state of mind about meeting other dogs from wanting to avoid being corrected to actually welcoming the dog as a positive thing.  We started out with treats and then moved to just praise and affection.  It didn't seem to matter to him...there was no need for a correction.  I don't think this could have happened without all the groundwork, but I'm thrilled with our experience today.  I think I'm even happier for GS owner who for the first time since she adopted this dog with such a horribly sad background saw that there was hope.  Her dog is a long way from being able to focus and did need many corrections, but at least she was out walking and starting to learn about expectations.  It was a good training day.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It was a GREAT training day! I am just so inspired by the work you are doing with Murphy. and very moved that this GSD has a good shot at a normal, haoppy life.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Yay, for Murph and the GSD. 

[Becka]

Jane, your stories are always so inspiring! It must have been wonderful to see the transformation in the GSD, and the happiness in his owner's eyes. Can you clone your trainer and send me a copy?

[Dori & Rua]

That is really awesome.  It make my heart happy to know what an impact that had on the GS owner!  What a wonderful thing. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

A good day for everyone and some really good tips for us. Thank you!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Jane, just home with a good internet connection.  I am very impressed with the progress you have made with Murphy. I am also impressed that the GS took a miraculous step in its socialization.  I hope your neighbor hires your trainer too.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, Nancy.....She did hire Ben and he's working with the GSD.  Hope your vacation was fun!