You’ve now taught a hand signal for “watch me.” It can help if you stink up your fingers first by rubbing them with a treat.
Slowly bring the treat up between your eyes.Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose.The following steps will help you lure your dog’s eye contact: Start these exercises in a quiet environment so you’re easily the most interesting thing in the room. If you make it obvious where you want your dog to look, it won’t take long for them to catch on. The easiest way to teach a “watch me” cue is to lure the behavior from your dog. So, encouraging mutual eye contact is a great way to build your bond with your dog. The same thing happens to you when you stare into your dog’s eyes.
In fact, looking into their owners’ eyes releases oxytocin, the love hormone. Some dogs, on the other hand, love to stare into their owner’s eyes. Teaching your dog to look at your eyes can help relieve any stress associated with mutual gazing. If you want to pass another dog on a walk, asking your dog to look at you, instead of the other dog, will make it easier to walk on by.įinally, not all dogs are comfortable with eye contact. A “watch me” cue is also useful to redirect your dog away from distractions. Getting your dog’s focus first, especially when there are exciting things competing for their attention, can greatly increase obedience. For example, it’s common to give your dog instructions, like to lie down on a mat when visitors come in the door or sit before you get dinner. Getting your dog’s attention is also valuable in everyday life. But one who watches you is waiting to see what you’ll ask for next. A dog that isn’t looking simply won’t see what you’re doing. Influencing where your dog is looking will increase your success, particularly with lure-and-reward training (where you lure a given behavior with a treat or toy) or teaching hand signals. A “watch me” cue allows you to control your dog’s focus, which is essential during training sessions.