If you incorporate eye contact in your dog’s training for attention sessions then he will always look up to you for guidance and have excellent behavior. This type of bond will ultimately bring your relationship to a higher level. You will both learn how to read each other’s body language and emotions. He will learn to respect your leadership role in the relationship. Eye contact provides a deeper level of communication than can be achieved by training simply through commands and motions. People who have practiced eye contact have really seen an amazing intensity of focused attention in their dog.
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.
Once he comes to your call you should present a treat you had hidden. Always keep treats randomly hidden throughout the house so your dog does not grow accustomed to only following your command during the obvious “training time”. Instead he will learn will obey every time and you will be promoting a higher level of focused attention in your dog.
Bring the treat up to your eyes to make his gaze land on your stare. Once he gets eye contact idea, reward him with praise and the treat. Increase the seconds you make him lock eyes with you for each treat. Always repeat the successful trials 3-5 times to make the exercise common knowledge for your dog.
If you are beginning training with a new puppy, then try to hand feed him for a few weeks. Use the kibble as a training reward. After he becomes consistent at making good eye contact, you can gradually discontinue the food and treat rewards and just use verbal praise.
Once your dog has become consistent in making eye contact and exhibits good focused attention, you need to then up the training by adding distractions. This can be calling his name from another room. Don’t give any positive feedback until he makes eye contact with you. Next, play with his favorite toy. When he wants to join in the play, call his name and have him make eye contact before allowing him to play.
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.
Sharing eye contact with your dog brings your relationship to a much higher level. While he learns to read your commands, he is also tuning into your every emotion. Meanwhile you are learning his personality too. In a way you both are “talking” to each other and your bond will be much stronger than a dog that never experienced dog training for attention.
