FOCUS GAMES

Sniff & Look

AIM:

To get your dogs nose down sniffing but also have them orientate towards you to improve focus.

STEPS:

  1. Throw the treat down cueing ‘find it ‘ and let them sniff out treat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

2. Now wait till they look up at you expecting the next treat. Mark the look with ‘Good.’ Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

You may need to be patient waiting for the next eye contact but then intervals between will get shorter.

3. Now your dog is checking in with you:

i). Add doing this on the move.

ii). Add asking for other behaviours such as cueing the ‘watch me’ or asking for ‘touch’, ‘sit’ etc before marking the behaviour with ‘good’ and rewarding with ‘find it’ and a treat thrown down.

iii). Now see if you can get some ‘with me’ between and keep marking and rewarding your dog when they check in with you with eye contact.

Focus Games - McDevit,

Two Steps (McDevit)

The aim of this game is to keep your dog’s attention on you when you are moving.

Protocol:

  1. Drop Treat

2. Take two steps away – allow the dog to find a treat but don’t wait for them to do it.

3. Mark when the dog looks back up at you.

4. Drop Treat

5. Repeat from 2.

Goal: To have the dog follow you enthusiastically and with focus.

Repeat per session: Repeat 10 times in at least two locations.

Ping Pong (McDevitt)

This game aims to help your dog focus on you when waiting in one place, perhaps letting others pass by.

Protocol:

1. Throw the treat out to one side and let the dog get it.

2. Wait for the dog to look back towards you.

3. Mark looking back at you.

4. Throw the treat out to the other side and let the dog get it.

5. Repeat from 2.

Goal: To have the dog repeatedly move from side to side rapidly.

Repeat per session: Repeat 10 times. Vary locations.

Give me a break (McDevitt)

This game aims to increase your dog’s focus on working with you and to teach them when you have finished working.

Protocol:

  1. Count out 10 treats.

2. Cue 10 simple, well-known behaviours in quick succession (can all be the same one but vary if possible).

3. Give release cue (finished, all done).

4. Let them do what they like for 30 seconds

5. Reengage and repeat from 1.

If they come back before the 30 seconds is up, give a “working” cue, then repeat from 1.

Goal: To have your dog working enthusiastically with you and understanding working and finished cues.

Repeat per session: No more than 5 cycles at a time – and less if your dog finds it challenging.