| Getting your dog's attention is one of the most | | | | praised and given a treat. As with all training, you can |
| important things you can do to accelerate all other | | | | gradually replace the treat with praise, just giving him |
| training skills. And if, once you've got it, you can keep | | | | an occasional treat to maintain his interest. Whenever |
| that attention, then you're really going to make some | | | | you are not giving your dog your undivided attention |
| fast progress. Keeping your dog's attention is essential | | | | when he is sitting to heel and looking at you, remember |
| in competition work, in the obedience ring for example, | | | | to give your release command. He will quickly lose |
| but also invaluable in everyday life. | | | | interest if you are busy, and you need to continually |
| Okay, so we've established the advantages, now we | | | | reinforce and reward this behaviour. |
| need to look at how to attain this goal. It isn't | | | | Once you and your dog are working well with this in a |
| necessarily going to be easy to keep your dog's | | | | quiet location, you can gradually add other distractions, |
| attention, and some breeds are certainly more difficult | | | | increasing these in small increments to allow your dog |
| than others but here are some tips on how to achieve | | | | to adjust. Praise him when he gets it right, give the |
| this with most dogs. | | | | release command and play with your dog - he must |
| Use the sit command and a tasty treat. Your dog | | | | know when he has done well, and training should be a |
| must already have learned this command and it must | | | | happy, pleasurable pursuit for both of you. |
| be solid - the dog must understand what is required of | | | | The next step is to extend this principle to heeling and |
| him and respond quickly to the command. You can | | | | other obedience training. Using the same procedure as |
| read my article on teaching your dog the sit command | | | | above, gradually teach your dog that is to his |
| if you haven't already taught him this. | | | | advantage to watch you, to be looking at your for |
| So, give the sit command, asking your dog to sit in heel | | | | your next command, during all obedience training. The |
| position, and use his favourite tasty treat to encourage | | | | key to this is to build his attention span by tiny |
| him to look upwards at your face. Praise him when he | | | | increments and praise him when he has done well. |
| focuses his attention on you, give him the treat and | | | | Never get frustrated or angry with your dog if he |
| release him from the sit command. Do this again and | | | | loses attention. This will be detrimental to his training - |
| again, each time increasing the time where he is | | | | simply praise him when he gets it right and make sure, |
| looking and concentrating on your face. You want to | | | | at the beginning, that the treat you choose is his |
| have his attention, so he is responsive to your next | | | | absolute favourite. Praise, fun and patience are the |
| command. | | | | three things that will gradually build obedience in any |
| Soon, your dog will automatically look at you when he | | | | dog. |
| sits, because he becomes accustomed to being | | | | |