| I teach "watch" using lots and lots of food. I hold the treats in my hand and wait for the dog to offer eye contact. Most dogs will figure out that you are not just handing out treats and will look at you puzzled when you don't start producing the food. As soon as the dog makes the tinniest bit of eye contact. Use a word that means he was correct, I use "yes" or click if you clicker train and hand over the treat. Repeat, repeat, repeat. If your dog starts offering eye contact easily, begin to gradually increase the time before producing the food. Build up to a minute or more. It helps to start out with your dog in front of you and gradually to having them in heel position. Do this gradually and reduce the amount of time you require eye contact once you move them over to sitting in heel position. When your dog is reliably offering eye contact pair it with a word "watch" or "ready" are both good ones. It helps if you start require eye contact for all the things your dog likes. To get out of the crate, go out to play, eat dinner, etc.... Your dog will quickly learn that eye contact is the key to everything good and fun.
There is also a way to teach eye contact using a lure, i.e. bringing the food to the dog's nose and then up to your nose to get the dog to look at you. I prefer not to use the prompt since it is one more thing to wean off of. If you are interested I can detail that for you as well.
Once you have very solid eye contact sitting in heel. Command "watch" give your heel command and step off. If the dog maintains eye contact for the 1-2 steps, release with lavish praise and treats. It does help to keep food in the mouth and then remove and treat with your left hand. The key is to keep it short, upbeat and fun. Step off briskly and be animated. If you dog does not watch you, say "ooops" and start over. I use totally correction free heeling, and have found it produces a wonderful upbeat heeling machine. I highly recommend Dawn Jecs "Choose to Heel" method. I've had lots of success with it.
Hope this at least gets you started. Be warned attention heeling takes lots of time, patience, work, more work, praise, fun, and a good humor.The key is to keep if fun and upbeat at all costs.
Dawn  |