paddles Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 I have a couple of games I play with my dogs to teach focus, which work well, however they quickly learn the game, and we all find it a little boring. one is to hold a treat in either hand, palms up, and only praise and treat when they ignore the treat and focus on me. However, I'd like some more "similar" games, so quiet, requesting focus, without command, to use when out on a walk, and periodically stop and "play" a focus game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 have you tried the balance the treat on the nose one yet, i once saw a dog that was so good at that and couldn't take it until he was looking intently at his owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddles Posted May 20, 2013 Author Share Posted May 20, 2013 have you tried the balance the treat on the nose one yet, i once saw a dog that was so good at that and couldn't take it until he was looking intently at his owner. hmmm.... no.... I'll have a play, but not holding my breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 I put treats all over my dog and make her look at me. It's hilarious and good training at the same time. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zug Zug Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 What about Susan Garrett's 'It's Yer Choice' game? Great vid here to show how it works: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 That's great! I have a JRT that has shocking impulse control around certain foods! I'm going to do this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 I have a whole bunch of these games. I don't just want the evil hound to focus on me, but also on where she's going (for agility). So I also practice getting her to look where I've aimed her (in a sit or stand stay), and then release for a fun game of chase me or tug or food. we also do this at dinner time - She doesn't get released for the food - until she looks at it instead of me. But she often looks at me too... And when playing IYC - I do the food everywhere... I also play with the food, rattle it in a cup, pick it up and drop it back in my hand, tap or point at it... and when she looks at anything but the food - I reward... Frosty got completely fooled in a game of IYC with Lynda Orton Hill last feb because Lynda had "somebody else's treats" and she tapped the table where they were. Which Evil hound took as an invitation to counter surf the table... foiled... Next day - when LOH wanted to demo naughty dog... Frosty had already figured out what she needed to do to get the food and wouldn't counter surf. I wish it was so easy at home. Have managed to teach her to sit and bark at things she wants - though I also need to teach her "enough" for when she's not getting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mixeduppup Posted May 20, 2013 Share Posted May 20, 2013 I've taught Torque to sit and bark at what she wants. She seems to only want the cat and food :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 Get yourself a copy of "The Focused Puppy" by Deborah Jones & Judy Keller. It's all in there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCNut Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 +1 for Focused Puppy. Awesome book. My 15 weeker is a focus weapon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddles Posted May 22, 2013 Author Share Posted May 22, 2013 Get yourself a copy of "The Focused Puppy" by Deborah Jones & Judy Keller. It's all in there is this any good for an older dog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCNut Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Depending on what you wanted to teach, sorry I didn't realise you were training an older dog. The book is more about building solid foundations in focus for puppies going on to sporting. Perhaps 'Control Unleashed' by McDevitt may be of use to you in that case. The LAT (Look at that) game is a concept she came up with and is very very popular for teaching focus. I think theres a LAT tutorial on youtube as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 Get yourself a copy of "The Focused Puppy" by Deborah Jones & Judy Keller. It's all in there is this any good for an older dog? Yes, yes, yes...I bought it when I got my new pup, but I put my older girl through all the excercises too & it was a great benefit ot her. It makes no difference what age they are when they learn focus games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobbly Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 I have a really awesome one. It's a Denise Fenzi series on shaping a retrieve. 10(ish - end on high note) pieces of food per session, several times a day. Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Such a soft, sweet dog, no way could I offer a fuzzy item like that to my rather more forceful dog, it would be in woolly ribbons in zero seconds flat! XD But it's just lovely to watch this series of clips. You can really see the collie getting more and more confident about exactly whats wanted of her here as the days go on. Maybe not quite what you're looking for, but the dog is focusing very hard on working with her owner. Worth watching. What about target (or touch or whatever you want to call it). Dog touches your hand with his nose. Then later you can use that to lure other behaviours instead of using food lures. That last is from McDevitt's "Control Unleashed" Another vote for that book being awesome, and full of tonnes of focus sort of exercises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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