Can't Focus!

[Giselle]

I usually don't ask for much behavioral help, but I've always struggled with getting a dog's undivided attention. While at an orientation/behavioral examination today, Giselle behaved so poorly it was almost embarassing

We were supposed to do a "serpentine", or maneuver around a couble obstacles. I thought this would be easy enough, but as soon as we got up to do the obstacle, she strained at the leash and would not look at me. Naturally, I got very frustrated and tense and she must have sensed it because she completely shut down. It was basically me dragging her through the course.

My question now is how to get her to focus? She has a mediocre "Watch Me" and her heel is fabulous out on the streets. But once the pressure starts sinking in, I get tense and she doesn't perform. Does anybody have any suggestions both for myself and Giselle? We really need to work on this before our next evaluation =/

[SunsetRose]

I'm having focusing problems with my dog as well, although a slightly different variety.

Would they allow treats in the class? With Rosie, that deffinitly helps to spark her interest. I would also suggest training in areas of more distraction like your front yard, out in the street, at a park etc. On other idea is to get to the class location a bit earlier so your dog has time to settle.

Rosie is really smart and picks up on things quickly. She is also very attentive to me and will work for food and praise and loves training. But once we get outside, it's a different story. She gets that "yeah whatever, there are other things I want to be doing" attitude. She still performs, but does it so slacked, unenthusiastically and aloof. Like on a heel, she hardly even looks up at me, she still heels, but is hardly paying any attention. She also knows her name which is like "watch me" to us, but once we're outside, she is completely deaf. Sometimes the only way I can get her attention is to physically touch her, like not a correction or to hurt her, just a touch. I'm trying to do rally with her and at our first class meeting, I couldn't keep her nose off the ground so I totally know where your coiming from about how frusterating it is.

[Excaliburk9]

The first thing I would do is use treats, (string cheese is best) or a favorite toy that he is only allowed to use during training. The less they have it the more they want it. But start out with your watch command and have the object at your face as soon as your pupper looks at you, as you say "Watch" then reward. I would do ten repetitions of this exercise until he has it down. Then go to standing up, and have distractions as you do this. Then start heeling if you have too, bring the object down to the dogs faces and bring it back up to you. Then as soon as he looks up at you, spit a small piece at him for a reward. You want him to think your face is the reward not your hand. Or if you use a ball have the toy under your chin and drop the toy to him.

Good luck.

[catnapper]

You already stated the problem: you get tense and she picks up on it. Rather than working on what to do different with her to get her attention, focus on deep breaths, relaxing, etc. You'll be amazed at how different things will be once YOU'RE confident. Like you said, she's great out on the streets - most likely because you're confident.

Dogs are fabulous readers of body language. When she sees you tense up, she doesn't know what to do. She's looking at you to be collected & in charge like you usually are. When you're showing signs of stress, she basically runs ahead because she knows you're no longer in charge.

An easy fix..... but these things are always easier said than done

[Giselle]

Catnapper, you're right. I'm glad you caught that hint because I knew my frustration was stressing her out, thus causing such a reaction from her. But when the pressure's on and when you get one chance to do something, I really tense up. It is soooo much easier said than done, and when I get to that point of frustration, it's hard to calm down. Does anybody have any tried and true techniques of stress relieving? Would holding the leash with a loose grip help?

Will definitely bring treats next time. I wasn't aware then that treats are allowed, but now I'm definitely going to be bringing a pocketful of chicken strips next time. The problem is not that Giselle doesn't listen with distractions (we practice heeling at dog parks and out in the city). It's just that when I get tense, she does too. Guess this is more of a human behavioral problem

[catnapper]

Pay attention to how you're holding the leash when cam. How do you stand? How is your posture? Is your head straight? Are you clutching the leash? and so on. Then ask these same questions when you're stressed? Whats different? Once you realize whats different vs. whats the same you can focus on telling yourself "I'm stressed but I need my body to look like I'm not so we can do this! So lets stand like normal and go!" Then tell yourself "legs loose, chin low, leash loose" (or whatever the real body signals are) as a reminder for what your body language should be telling Giselle.