Training Tips:

Never practice right after your dog has eaten.  Dogs are more likely to work for a tasty treat if a bit hungry.

Note:   Only after the dog and owner have mastered obedience commands at home should distance and outdoor training begin.

 Days 1-3.   When your dog is close to you (two to four feet), call his name.  When you begin for the first time on the first day extend your hand toward him with a treat in it.  As he comes to you, offer the TREAT and say “Good NAME”.  Each time after, as you call his name bring your hand with the treat in it up to your face between your eyes.  As soon as he makes any eye contact (looks into your eyes), TREAT immediately and say “Good NAME”.  Repeat 25 times in quick succession. Practice 2 to 3 times randomly throughout the day. Over the next two days, practice 2 to 3 times randomly throughout the day.   Repeat 10 times in quick succession.  Dog does not have to sit for this.  If he does not look into your eyes, but instead follows your hand with the treat, try snapping your fingers or making a strange soft sound as you bring your hand to your eyes.  If dog does not look into your eyes, do not praise or treat.  Walk away from your dog, put the treat away, and stop the exercise for 5 to 10 minutes.  He’ll probably follow you around trying to find the treat, but just ignore him.  Then, as soon as he forgets about the treat, begin the lesson again.  He must make some eye contact (even a fraction of a second) before getting the treat and praise.  Timing is important so you have to be quick.  Treat and praise immediately when his eyes meet yours.

Days 4-5.  Begin to hide the treat in the hand that you do not bring to your eyes.  Place your hand with the treat behind your back.  Call his name when he is near and bring your empty hand to your eyes.  At this point, he should look up directly into your eyes.  Maintain eye contact for at least 1 full second (one-one thousand), before bringing your hand from behind your back to TREAT and praise “Good NAME”.   Repeat 10 times in quick succession.  Practice 2 to 3 times randomly throughout the day and over the next two days.  Dog does not have to sit for this.   Be sure to maintain eye contact for 1 full second (one-one thousand).

Day 6.  Begin to extend the length of time he must look into your eyes before giving the treat to 2 full seconds (one one-thousand, two two-thousand), then to 3 full seconds (one one-thousand, two two-thousand, three three-thousand).   Remember, the treat is coming from the hand behind your back, not the hand at your eyes.

Day 7.   Once he masters looking into your eyes every time you call his name for 3 full seconds, have him SIT before giving him the TREAT.  He must first look into your eyes for 3 full seconds.  Then command SIT.  As soon as he sits, give the TREAT and say “Good NAME”.   (Refer to Basic Obedience Lesson One:  Teaching Your Dog to Sit  on previous page.)

Days 8-10.   Before you know it, when you call his name, he will come to you, focusing on your eyes, and immediately sit.   At this time begin to alternate giving lots of praise (“Good NAME”) and giving treats.  During one practice session, give treats and praise, the next practice session just praise. 

Days 11–14.  Begin to withhold treats.  Offer a treat 1 time during a practice session in the morning one day, offer a treat 1 time during a practice session in the evening on another day, and on yet another day offer a treat 1 time during a practice session in the afternoon.   Mix up the time of day that you offer the one treat so he never knows when he is going to get it.   At this time and into the future, you should only be giving a treat once a day for the correct response, but always generously praise him. 

every single day.