[Trick of the Month] Nose Targeting and Eye Contact
The Introduction:
Hello, everyone! How did you do last month? Any thoughts, questions, or comments?
I wanted to start February's Trick of the Month off with a note about why I chose these tricks.
I have spoken to a few people on this sub about what they would like to see in the TOTM series, and I got a lot of requests for some of the basic stuff, like heel, targeting, come, stay.... Since we have already done tricks like sit pretty, shake, high five, twist, and spin, I felt like I needed to take a few steps back to the tricks that were requested, and then start to build up from there. Shortly after we get through the basics, we'll go on to slightly more advanced tricks like "bang", roll over, play dead, between(your legs), etc.
The plan is to combine 2-3 each month when doing the basics. 1. because they're relatively easy to teach and don't take too much time, and 2. because we can just fly through them and get to the more advanced tricks soon. After that, I'll probably do most of them one trick a month.
Please, I appreciate all feedback on this topic, and would LOVE to hear any suggestions for the TOTM series in the future. I have a list going already, and I will add your suggestions to the list!
One last thing before I start...I want to thank everyone who was participated and is planning on participating in this. I know some of you really enjoy the TOTM, and that makes me happy! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! ....Oh, and apologize for the ridiculously long post(s). :D
The tricks:
- Nose Targeting- to "touch" your hand with their nose, and be able to do this with distance and follow your moving hand.
Targeting is a great building block behavior. It helps your dog learn how to learn, it helps you learn move your dog about, and it also sets you up for an easy transition to other tricks that require targeting, like closing a door, ringing a bell, or pushing their lips against glass.
- Eye Contact- to make and keep eye contact and attention with you.
When training any dog, I like to start with eye contact. It's so important that you have your dog's attention before you ask them to do something. They have to be able to see what you're telling them, before they can do it. Just imagine someone coming up to you while you're reading a book or working, if they don't get your attention first, how will you know they're even talking to you?
Eye contact is not just a beginning to nearly every trick, but it helps you keep and regain your pup's attention in areas with higher distractions, in these cases, this trick/command is crucial.
The Training:
- Nose Targeting:
"Place your palm (or the object you would like the dog to touch) a few inches in front of the dog's nose. Most dogs will sniff or touch it, mark and reward the sniff and take the prop (or your hand) away! Show your hand or the prop again to repeat for practice. Once the dog is intentionally touching the target, you can start varying the distance to teach him to follow the target. Now you have a way to call him back to you, to move him around and to teach new behaviors!" -- (taken from the Targeting page of r/dogtraining's Wiki.)
When training with targets, I don't name it, because the path I'm taking my pup in is going to be named something else, but if all I want her to do is touch my hand with her nose, then I'll say "touch"
- Eye Contact:
Before I begin, I will say that some people make this cue the dog's name, and some people choose to make a phrase for it. I, personally, kinda do a bit of both....but everyone has their own way, so do what feels best for you and your dog, but make sure your dog doesn't get any of them confused.
"Teaching the Name
Step 1: Positively Condition the name.
Say the name then immediately mark and drop a treat. You aren't waiting for any specific behavior from the dog, right now you are just teaching him that his name is special. Do this at least 10 times, maybe 20.
Step 2: Wait for some small response
By now your dog should have caught on that his name is very special indeed. I bet if you say his name and wait a second you'll see him look up at you, or move his head a little. Mark that!
Step 3: Shape towards eye contact
Start looking for bigger and more pronounced recognition of the name. At first take any look in your general direction, but as you practice only reward the best 80% of responses. Slowly your dog should look more and more at your face. Note that it helps not to be fidgeting with the treat pouch until after you've marked the behavior that you want.
Step 4: Generalize to more locations
Practice in increasingly distracting environments until you have a way of getting your dog's attention anywhere. When you move to more exciting places, use higher value treats and expect to have to do a little bit of retraining. Default Eye Contact" -- (taken from the Name Game page of r/dogtraining's Wiki.)
I would like to add that you can combine that basic path or training with a hand cue and treat to help persuade that initial eye contact....by holding a treat in your hand, letting them know it's there, and then with the same hand, make your cue as you move your hand near your face, and wait for eye contact. (My cue is 2 fingers pointing at my own eyes) IMMEDIATELY mark and reward. Once they understand that it's the eye contact you want, you can stop holding the treat in your hand as you make the cue to your face. Upon receiving solid eye contact, mark and reward- This time the treat will be coming from somewhere else, not from your face. Anyway, eventually, you can wean off of the added hand cue. Or you can keep it, I find that it gives your dog a distraction, so they have to choose..."look at the treat, or look at mom? which ones gets me the treat???"
Okay. So I think that about sums it up. I know these tricks when caught on camera don't look like much, but I would love see your photos and/or videos of your pups doing these two tricks/commands.
If you have any questions, or any of this is confusing, please, do not hesitate to comment. I, and a few other people on the sub, are more than willing to help you with any problems that may occur.
Remember, keep the training sessions short and simple, and keep it fun and happy for your dog! Now lets see those photos/videos!!!
The Videos:
- Nose Targeting:
- Eye Contact:
Posted Feb 5, 2015, 1:22 AM UTC