NO LOOKIE NO COOKIE

 

 

This game is the beginning of teaching focused attention.

The goal is for the dog to make direct eye contact with you, and to learn to ignore food to look at your eyes.

To start, cut up at least 50 soft food treats. The treats should be so small that the dog eats them in one quick slurp. For my dogs, I slice a hot dog in half lengthwise, and then cut that into pieces the thickness of a nickel. I freeze what I don't use for the next time. It helps to stay motivated for training if you always have a little bag of bait in the freezer.

So when you have your bait cut up, put it in a place where the dog cannot get to it. Get a handful, 10 or so, treats in each hand, and show the dog you have them.

In rapid succession for 4 to 5 repetitions, feed the dog a treat from alternate hands. Each time you feed the dog a treat, say YES!! in a happy tone of voice.

Make sure you still have food in each hand, make sure the dog knows you still have food in each hand. Put your hands down by your side, facing your dog, and wait for the dog to look at you. Smile, but say nothing, and don't move. The dog must find this first move on his own. Most dogs will work for a minute to see if they can get you to give them a treat. They may lick, mouth, nose, bump your hand, paw your leg, they might bark. Be still, and be silent, keep smiling, and wait for the dog to make eye contact.

As SOON as he does, even if it's only a glance (this is why you can't glance away from the dog, even for a second) say YES!! in your happiest tone of voice, and immediately let the dog eat ALL the treats, first from one hand, and then the other.

Load up again and wait. This time when the dog looks, give one piece of food and wait for him to look again. Build on this gradually. Never correct. Always smile, praise, and food reward for eye contact.

I start this game with tiny puppies, and older dogs learn it fast too. Once your dog learns to work for the treats, the game is on. You can then use this  method to shape MANY different behaviors. Shape for longer looks, looks in heel position, looks with distraction.

 

When the pup is consistently playing the game, and you have worked up to looks of more than 20 seconds, begin to use the dog’s name as the cue to look. Pair the name with the look. At this point, put the food somewhere you can easily get it and quickly reward the dog, but keep it off your person and out of your hands.

 

When the dog can consistently hold looks for over 20 seconds from heel position, it is time to begin teaching position/movement commands, and one step heeling.