Page 52 - 2024 02 Summer

Training For
Focused Attention

by Melanie Kipp

Years ago, I gave a seminar in Montana nose and let him know I have treats. This is
on positive reinforcement training. It was important to me. Part of this training is for the
specifically for competition training and how dog to learn that he must take his attention away
to use positive reinforcement to get focused from things such as treats and focus on me. Do
attention from your dog. I took one demo you think training with treats doesn't work?
dog, my seven year-old Chow, Kylee. It was an That's because the dog has learned to focus on
eight-hour working seminar. Participants were the treats instead of on you. This training will
encouraged to bring their own dogs. teach him the proper way to give attention.
When we took a break, two hours into the With the dog now aware of the treats, I place my
seminar, several people came up to talk to me. hands on my knees. This puts them in easy reach
They wanted to tell me how amazed they were of the dog, which is exactly what I want. If you
at Kylee. Not only were they impressed with the keep your hands up out of the dog's range, you
fact that she was a Chow, but she had spent those will defeat the purpose of the dog having to make
entire first two hours of the seminar off-leash a choice to move away from the treats. Nearly all
and fully focused on me. She made no attempt dogs will try to get to the treats in your hands.
to go visit other people or other dogs and, even They will nuzzle and lick at your hands. I let the
when the dogs came close to her, she never took dog do this. I want him to find out that he can't
her eyes off of me. This is what focused attention get to the treats, although he surely knows they're
training can build in your dog. It gives them there. He can lick at my hands all he wants but
the willingness and understanding necessary to they're not going to open for that.
remain focused for long periods of time.
After a minute or so of him trying to get my
It's very difficult to train a dog when the dog hands open, I quietly and in a calm voice say
doesn't have a concept of attention. As you his name. I don't want to sound demanding or
probably have all experienced, a dog that spends forceful - after all, I want my dogs to learn to
more time looking at every distraction than look at me when I speak in a normal voice, not
looking at you is a very tough dog to teach just when I sound forceful. Often the dog will
even the simplest behaviors. When you take an ignore his name. Many times the dog doesn't
independent breed such as our Chows, it can really associate any particular behavior with his
make it even more difficult. So, in my method name anyway. So, after 10-15 seconds, I'll say it
of training, focused attention is always the first again using the same calm voice. I continue to do
thing I teach to my dogs. I start off teaching them this, at intervals of 10-15 seconds, until the dog
to look at me (generally by using their name as a finally acknowledges me. All I want is a quick
cue) and then I can shape that focus onto various flick of his eyes up towards my face. And as soon
targets in order to train other behaviors. as I see those eyes flick up, I say "YES!!" in an
enthusiastic voice, then open one hand and give
When I start with a new dog, I want to set the him a treat.
dog up to succeed as much as possible. The
majority of my training is built on being able This is much harder for the human part of the
to reward the dog for behaviors, so it's very team than it is for the dog. Remember that the
important that he succeed! I choose a quiet and dog has no clue as to what you want. He just
relatively distraction-free area for the first steps wants those treats! But he is going to learn that
of attention training. With the dog on a leash and the only way to get a treat is to take his attention
a simple flat collar, I gather up some delicious away from the treat and give it to you. The very
treats and sit down in a chair. The leash is looped first step of that is a glance at you. When you try
over my wrist or I may even sit on it or put my this, don't expect anything more than that. Be
foot on it. I don't use the leash for anything other very patient. Watch for that tiniest of glances up
than to keep the dog from wandering off. The and immediately say "YES!!" and give the treat.
treats I choose are ones that are soft and can be What will most likely happen is that it will be
eaten very quickly. Bits of meat or cheese work such a quick glance that your "yes" and the giving
very well. I avoid treats such as dog biscuits. of the treat will be after he's already looked away.
Some dogs take too long to eat those and it That's okay for now; it's the first step of many.
distracts from the training session.
Once you've given your dog a single treat, close
Once I'm settled in the chair, I put 3-4 your hands and put them back on your knees.
treats in each hand and close my hands. Expect that your dog will go back to worrying at
Then I put my closed hands to the dog's your hands, trying to get another treat. He knows
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