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ange165
Wise Old Weim
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 1147
Location: Australia
Fur Kids: Ruby (Weimaraner) |
 Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject: focus in heeling HEEELP! |
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Our heeling work doesn't appear to be progressing much.. I simply can't keep her attention on me. I see other people's dogs watching their owners intently (head looking up) throughout heeling work. I am seriously at a loss to know how to get the focus on me (instead of the piece of fluff on the carpet, or that new bit of dirt in the backyard).
She knows where the heel position is, and she knows 'watch'. How do I get those two together????
I have been doing baby steps with this because her attention on me seems to be the main problem we are having. Even at home in the loungeroom where we practice mainly (we have had a few ventures out to the backyard) but even a bit of fluff on the carpet makes her lose focus.
I would appreciate ANY help I can get - I know it's probably me that needs help!!  |
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versatilek9s
Champion Weim
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 688
Location: VA
Fur Kids: Maya, Sage & Macy--all weims |
| Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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They get that awesome eye-to-eye focus b/c of a. they're border collies/goldens/labs/shelties and b. targeting.
Here we usually bend our left arm up and put our hand around bellybutton level. I guess it's the same down there? It's very easy to teach them to target your left hand by keeping a treat there. Initially treat every three or four steps, then every ten, then only when you have her sit, etc. Another option is to put the treat in your mouth (popcorn or bits of cheese work okay) and spit it at her for a reward...that way she expects her treats to come from your face.
I can get eye contact most of the time, but it will never look like it does with a BC when they almost wrap themselves around the handler's leg. If I can get it all the time, I'll let you know how I did it!! Macy is progressing well with this, and heels looking at me, very well. Maybe the key is doing this as a very young puppy.
meredith |
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youhavenoidea
Wise Old Weim
Joined: 27 Jan 2008
Posts: 1922
Location: Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Fur Kids: Slade - Weimaraner |
| Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| One trick I've seen for "watch me" is to hold your treat right on your cheek right below your eye, then lower it straight down to their mouth for a reward for their attention. Seems to get the point across pretty quick RE: that you want consistent eye contact. |
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ange165
Wise Old Weim
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 1147
Location: Australia
Fur Kids: Ruby (Weimaraner) |
| Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:23 am Post subject: |
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| versatilek9s wrote: | They get that awesome eye-to-eye focus b/c of a. they're border collies/goldens/labs/shelties and b. targeting.
Another option is to put the treat in your mouth (popcorn or bits of cheese work okay) and spit it at her for a reward...that way she expects her treats to come from your face.
meredith |
TRUE!!!
I heard this spitting the reward treat out by another person and I was like 'whaaaat?' LOL
thanks for the tips.. I think I am just so impatient, but I feel like we have been doing this forever and getting NOWHERE.
She has really good 'look/watch' thing happening.. it's just the combining that with the walking bit I can't seem to get..  |
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versatilek9s
Champion Weim
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 688
Location: VA
Fur Kids: Maya, Sage & Macy--all weims |
| Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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| It will come...she's still a young pup, right? |
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