Keeping Attention while Heeling

          I’ve been asked about how to keep attention while heeling. First, I like to work on this as a puppy. I use the cookie to bribe the pup’s heel position while at the same time working on focused attention. I also like to do lots of moving focused attention exercises where I try to get the pups to connect with my body as I make some sort of movement (in front, at the side etc.). Initially this movement is exaggerated and then it becomes very minimal as the pup/dog learns to understand what I want. I always like to teach first, train and then proof an exercise.

          Now, lets say you have a dog that you are getting ready to go into Novice competition (or higher) and you don’t have 100% attention all of the time. This happens to all of us for various reasons. Right now, while going for Echo’s OTCH, he has developed a strong/obsessive love for the dumbbell. If the judge has the DB while we are heeling, doing the figure 8 or finishing, guess where Echo’s mind and heart is! Not on me!! This issue has cost us points and when going for an OTCH, you can’t loose points this way. The issue is the same whether Echo is looking at the DB (which the judge might have or he is convinced the judge has) or any dog that is distracted by something in the ring; the judge, things going on in the other ring etc. The issues are similar and results can range from points off to an NQ.

          The first thing is to identify the problem and then to try to figure out where there is a hole in your training. This takes time to reflect on your training method and on your dog. It is so easy to blame the dog, but often it is a lack of understanding or a step missed in training that we as a handler have to take responsibility for.

          The second step is to come up with a plan to deal with the lack of attention. You have to decide what you are comfortable with as far as corrections. I use a collar or leash pop, I might use a mild quick ear pinch that says to “knock it off”, and I implement distractions. So often, the mistakes don’t happen in our backyard, or our training location where the dog is comfortable and the distractions are known. We often have perfect heeling in these environments but not in the ring. People feel the dog becomes ring wise. I say they need more proofing so that the training environment is more distracting and harder for the dog than the show ring.

          So, make your inventory, what is the problem that the dog has, what foundation does the dog have, how can you as the handler properly address these issues and finally, how do you get it to follow through in the ring. If you are like me, the large percentage of my training is done alone which compounds the problem the dog becoming distracted. I believe I am a balanced trainer who is willing to use positive motivation and teaching but will also use corrections when necessary. Often, attention issues need corrections, giving a cookie and bribing the show ready dog to pay attention will not hold up in the ring. The dog needs to understand that attention is not an option, which is often easier said than done.

          Here are some things I have done with Echo so far to try to overcome our lack of attention in the ring. We are far from over this issue, but it will give you some ideas. Since my issue is with the DB (or really any retrieve object-he loves them all!!), I train with plenty of these objects all over the floor. I will heel over them, around them, I will toss one, then ask for him to heel with me, I kick them as I heel along (where good shoes with a strong toe box for this one!). I’ll play with him with one of these objects, toss it, and let him retrieve it, toss it again and then ask for heeling. I am setting him up to fail so I can make a correction. Setting high criteria is important for this also-is an eye flick all right or is this corrected, is a slow response to my moving out into heeling after the toss accepted or corrected. You have to set your criteria, and in lack of attention issue, I set it pretty high. Once we as pretty successful with all of this in a familiar location, I take it on the road-to a park, a store front, a different training building, a run-thru.

          When I am lucky enough to have someone to train with, they carry the DB, entice him with it, they toss it etc. In other words, I do lots of proofing, fair proofing, to make things black and white for Echo. Look at the DB while we are heeling, sitting on the figure 8 or finishing and there is a correction. If he chooses to watch me instead, he gets loads of praise.

          I use my real like example of what is going on with Echo to help explain all that might be necessary to help the dog understand. These issues also don’t go away over night (boy would that be great!!). They take time!! Be patient, be creative, and enjoy the problem solving that goes into dog training. I think sometimes that is the most enjoyable part of training dogs! Yes, it can also be the most frustrating, but each dog, each issue brings an opportunity to become a better dog trainer, which is very exciting!

          Now lets take one more example of lack attention while heeling. Say you go in the ring, you set up for the heeling to start and your dog is distracted. You are in the ring, there is not much you can do, but try to reposition him and regain attention. However, in training, work those set-ups. You have lots of set ups, one before every exercise. Work them!!! Make that one little part of your training and showing a priority. I start this training close up, with the dog on my left side. I use a cookie to get the dog to slide over to the right as I slide over to the right a step. I put the command, “get close” to this. Once the dog starts to understand, I move further away from the dog (still on leash) and add a slight pop to get the dog to move into heel position from a little distance. This can also be done by having the dog sit slightly behind you, and then ask the dog to “get close” into heel position. This can progress into having the dog sit, you move several feet, start heeling and at the same time ask the dog to, “get close”. I then add a stronger pop as needed to really reinforce this movement anytime I give a “get close” command. I want my dog to move into this position with commitment. This is one area that I have really worked on with Echo to make him focus more on me than the judge and it is a skill I can take into the ring with me.

I encourage you to take a look at Debbie Quigley and Judy Ramsey’s book, Success is in the Proofing which can be found on their website: www.dogwood-dog-training.com and I know that Adele Yunk from Michigan just published a new book on proofing called The Art of Proofing. Information can be found on her website at www.northfielddogtraining.com.

Until next time, happy heeling! Enjoy your training and your companionship with your dog! If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at indy@centurytel.net.