Eye Contact
The eyes are the windows to the soul.
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Why teach your puppy to communicate using eye contact? Helps your puppy to communicate and is more likely to be listening if they are looking at you
It precedes all communication with your puppyPromotes connection and focus when training
How to teach eye contact?
Step 1: Learning eye contact
Kneel down, or sit on a chair next to your puppyGrab a handful of treats in one hand, let them smell your hand and then hold your hand out to the side in a closed fist.
Your puppy will try all they know to access the treats. However, when you see them look at you say your marker “good” Then reward your puppy with a treat and repeat 3 times a day in different locations
Step 2: Change position
Stand up and do the same exercise as step 1Change hands
Step 3: change contextStand up and drop a treat on the floor for your pup to eat, drop another, then another, then another, then…nothing…as your pup looks up to you as if to say ‘Hey! Where’s my treat!’, you say ‘good’ to mark the behaviour of eye contact, then drop a treat to reinforce. Once your pup eats the dropped treat, you wait, again, when they look up to you, say ‘good’ and reinforce
Step 4: Add movement and distance. Do a couple of reps of Step 3, then start to slowly move to your left, your right, backwards….Your pup will follow you and any time they glance up to your face, say ‘good’ and drop a reinforcing treat to reward the eye contact on the move.
Step 5: Transfer to life in general. e.g. if your puppy wants to go out of the door to go to the toilet, wants the ball to be thrown, wants to come onto the sofa for a cuddle, wait for eye contact, say ‘good’ and deliver the reward
Step 5: Transfer to life in general. e.g. if your puppy wants to go out of the door to go to the toilet, wants the ball to be thrown, wants to come onto the sofa for a cuddle, wait for eye contact, say ‘good’ and deliver the reward
Click the links below to see how trainers around the world teach this skill
