Dog Training

Use Eye Contact for Success in Dog Training

If you want to see an outstanding level of focused attention by your dog, then use Eye contact in your training methods. The incorporation of eye contact into your daily training results in a higher level of understanding by your dog. You both learn to respond to each other’s body language. This results in a better behaved dog who looks to you for guidance.

Eye contact requires full attention from your dog. This kind of clear thinking will make for a much better behaved pet, build an overall closer bond, and will really set the standard of who the master is in the household. Eye contact is a method used in dog training for attention. If your dog wants food, to be played with, or admired, then he will have to lock eyes with you and follow your lead. This training process is actually much more humane than to be controlled by the leash because it is easier, faster, and more positive.

Reward your dog with a treat when he looks at you. Be sure to keep the treats at various places so he won’t just expect a treat at a special training time, but will remain attentive and make eye contact with you at other times as well. He will then begin to obey you every time.

Raise the treat to your eyes so his gaze will lock with yours. Once he does this reward him. Slowly increase the seconds of eye contact for each reward. Soon he will know exactly where to look for his prize.

If your puppy is new to you then you can try to hand feed him his kibble for the first few weeks of living with you. Just use his kibble for the exercises. Once your dog gets good at making eye contact, you can wean him off of food and treats for praise and just use verbal positive rewards.

Once he masters the first exercise and the focused attention in your dog has been steadily maintained, then you can throw in a couple of distractions. Start by calling his name from other rooms. Make sure he meets your eyes upon greeting you there. Then play with his toy. If he wants to jump in on the fun just say his name again to bring his gaze to your stare before letting him join. Be consistent in every exercise you do so your dog does not get confused.

If you are certain the dog training for attention methods have worked so far then it is time to move to the advanced training exercise. Have a friend come over and offer your dog food. Interject on their moment by saying his name for eye contact. If your dog looks at you praise him greatly and even take the offered food and reward it to him from your hands. If he never does look, then sit off to the side alone and depressed for a few minutes to show how upset he made you, then repeat the exercise. Chances are, your dog will not want you to be sad and will defiantly look at you the second time around. After a few successful outcomes you know you have focused attention in your dog and all of the dog training for attention will pay off throughout the rest of his life.

Eye contact during training will make for a better behaved dog, a much closer bond, and will encourage a constant higher thinking from your pet. Eye contact is the most important method used in dog training for attention because he will have to lock eyes with you if he ever wants food, to be played with, or praised. This training process is actually much more humane than to be controlled by the leash because it is easier, faster, and more positive.