I need help with "Watch Me"!!!!

Lizmo

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#1
Lizzie just does not seem to be getting it!!

She well do it only at a certain distance and then you loose her. What I mean is that she will only "watch me" if I am not to close and not to far away!!! :confused:

I do not know what to do!!!!!! :confused:
 

Lizmo

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#3
I started out by taking a treat and be on her "level" and take the treat up to my face point at my face and say " Lizzie watch me".
 
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#4
Do you have a clicker? If not, you can just use "YES", instead as a reward marker.
Have her sit in front of you (you're standing), hold the treat in your hand, with your arm outstretched to the side. She will look at the treat, then to you...as soon as she looks at you, say "YES" or click, then treat.

She needs to see a bigger difference between what you don't want (looking at the treat) and what you do want (looking at your eyes). Standing is better as is holding the treat away from your face. It makes the correct behavior much more obvious to her.

The way to build duration is to wait a few seconds before the reward marker ("YES" or click), but be sure to go slow when building on the original behavior. Have the "watch me" performed reliably before trying to add distance or duration.
I really find that holding the treat to close to your face makes the "watch me" much more confusing.
I hope I explained that right or so that it's understandable. If not, I'll email you my behavior class sheet that I hand out to owners...let me know.
 

Brattina88

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#5
Dr, you took the words right out of my mouth! I love 'Watch me', its one of my favs, and one of the most useful, I think. :)
Good Luck Liz, let us know !
 

Lizmo

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#6
Thanks Dr2little that helps a LOT!!!!

I am going to start working with her on this SOON!!!

BTW- I do not use a clicker I would use the word YES!!!!

Also where should I hold the treat and should I tell her to "leave it" (she knows this command GOOD!!!)
 
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#7
Thanks Dr2little that helps a LOT!!!!

I am going to start working with her on this SOON!!!

BTW- I do not use a clicker I would use the word YES!!!!

Also where should I hold the treat and should I tell her to "leave it" (she knows this command GOOD!!!)
The word YES is just fine, works the same as a clicker as a reward marker.
As far as what command to use, if you're working with WATCH ME then I would only use the command WATCH ME...not leave it. LEAVE IT is having her leave something that you're not holding..most times.
For WATCH ME, its best to hold the treat out to the side...refer to the above post (I'm lazy and I wrote it in the other post;) , if you need me to clarify I'll be more than happy to.:) :)
 

IliamnasQuest

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#8
I have the steps for attention training on my website: http://www.kippsdogs.com/tips.html

I do it a bit differently, but the end result is the same. I want my dogs to have to make a conscious choice to take their attention away from the treats, so I set it up that way from the beginning. I have my students start by sitting and holding treats in their hands, with their hands on their knees within easy reach of the dogs. The dogs lick and nose at the hands for awhile, but eventually they do look up and that's when the handler is to mark the behavior (click or "YES!") and follow with a treat.

Once the dog figures it out, they immediately snap their heads up to look at the handler's face. It's a gradual process though. Once they understand what gets them the treat, then the handler can start to wait for two glances, or lengthen the time they look up, etc. At this time they can also vary their position - standing with dog in front, standing with dog in heel position, laying on the bed - whatever they want!

I can hold a treat out to Khana and she will whip her head around and stare at my face, even though I'm lifting her lips up with the treat. She won't take it until I mark the behavior with my "YES!". I've used this method on all of my dogs, all the dogs I've trained in the past 10-12 years and with all of my students and it's been extremely effective.

Good luck and be patient!

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

 

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