Look at me

To have a dog that watches you can be very helpful, not only in competitive events but also for around the home.  In Performance events, missing a hand signal could be the difference between a zero and a qualifying score.  In Conformation, if a dog is watching its handler then it’s probably standing still and giving the Judge a better chance to look at him.   If you are trying to take a photo of your dog - especially in a group situation – having a dog that will look at you can make the session go much more smoothly. And when you are trying to teach the dog something new, if they aren’t looking at you, then you have little chance of success.

Being focussed on their owner isn’t possible all the time, but teaching them to make eye contact often is part of the solution and teaching them to look at you on command is the rest.

If your dog is focussed on something you would rather they weren’t too obsessed with (a cat or a bird that you think they are going to chase or a child with food in their hands or food on the ground that you don’t want them to take), it might be difficult to call them away or keep control.   If you can get their focus back on you - on command - then you have half the battle won (the other half is preventing them from chasing or taking the food etc).

One of the first things we teach in obedience is not to stare at your dog because many dogs find direct eye contact intimidating and dominating.  (By the way, staring down a dog can be a useful tool for a dog who is trying to dominate you AS LONG AS you know this dog and know that staring forcefully at it won’t provoke it to attack.  Please don’t do this to just any dog because it may be very dangerous.)  But there is a difference between staring down a dog and making eye contact with a dog.   My Rafe is an ‘eye-contact’ dog – he finds having eye contact with me reassuring (especially when he is some distance from me eg group stay exercises).   Strange as it may sound, having a smile on your face when you look at a dog is less threatening.  It softens the muscles around the eyes and takes away that stern look.   You can also make encouraging noises or give praise but make sure the tone of voice is also non threatening. 

Get a treat or a toy and stand or sit in front of the dog.   Hold the treat in one hand down at your side or in your lap and make sure the dog knows the treat is there.  Then, bring the hand without the treat up to your face to encourage him to follow the movement of the hand up to eye level and use a verbal one word command – I use “Watchme”.  When he makes eye contact, praise and treat.  Then gradually keep the eye contact for microseconds longer.  Again don’t try to go too fast with this exercise, you need to praise before he looks away.  

This is an exercise from UK trainer & Judge Kamal Fernandez that takes the “watchme” to the next level.  

Eye Spy

Stand up with the toy / treat in your hand.  Stand still until the dog looks at your face, rather than the treat. Reward. Progress by increasing the time the dog must look. Teaches the dog that he won’t get a treat by focusing on the reward, instead is rewarding for giving the handler attention.   Encourages the dog to be looking at the handlers face all the time just in case they notice and reward.

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