Category: Getting Started, Performance Events ¤
  Author: Dani Weinberg ¤
   Title: Eye Contact Game ¤

EYE CONTACT GAME
(Thanks to Chris Bach, Oconomowoc WI)

A strong relationship between you and your and dog is based on paying
attention to each other.  Unless you have (and give) attention, you'll
never be able to teach your dog anything.  Eye contact is probably the most
powerful form of attention.  In this game, your dog will learn that looking
straight into your eyes is always rewarded.  You'll be asking your dog to
make a choice between looking at the reward and looking into your eyes.
Only by making the right choice (looking away from the treat) will your dog
get the treat.

Procedure
1.  Find something that your dog loves - preferably, a food treat the size
and softness of a  raisin.  Some possibilities:  raisins, cheese, cooked
meat, hot dogs, beef jerky, Cheerios.  (If your dog is not turned on by
food, find something that does excite him/her: a toy, going out for a walk,
getting into the car for a ride, etc.)

[Annotation: Since this post was included in the archives it has been
				determined that raisins and grapes can be toxic to
				your dog. Please disregard any references to the use
				of raisins or grapes to treat your dog.

2.  Hold the leash loosely in your left hand.  Use your right hand to show
your dog a treat by holding it in front of his nose.  
3.  Move your right hand, holding the treat, straight out to the side.
4.  Wait!
5.  The instant your dog looks away from the treat and makes eye contact
with you, click (or say "Yes!")  and then give the treat. (See "Hint" below.)
6.  Repeat steps 1-5 a few times, and repeat the whole training game a few
times a day.  You'll find that your dog quickly figures out how to "train"
you to give him/her the treat!
7.  When you see that your dog is making a conscious choice for eye
contact, start to vary your position.  For example, hold the reward out to
your left side or behind your dog.  Or, stand directly in front of, or on
one or the other side, of your dog.  Or, sit in a chair or on the floor
with your dog in front of or beside you.  You'll find that every time you
change position, your  dog will have a little difficulty getting started.
That's normal.  From your dog's point of view, this is a new exercise.
8.  Now you can add a command to this behavior - such as "Ready!"  Give the
command, show the treat, and, when your dog makes eye contact, click (or
say "Yes!") and then give the treat.

Hint: If your dog simply won't give you eye contact but continues to look
at the treat, wait until he/she turns his/her head even slightly towards
your face - and reinforce that immediately (click or "Yes!" and then
treat)!  After a few times, wait till your dog turns just a bit more
towards your face before rewarding.  This process is called "shaping."
Instead of rewarding the finished behavior you actually want, you're
rewarding tiny steps that will lead towards that behavior, each time asking
just a little more of your dog.  Once your dog gets the finished behavior
(making eye contact with you), go on to Step 6.

Dani Weinberg
Albuquerque, NM and
Crested Butte, CO
71044.3715@compuserve.com