Hi guys,

Anyone know how I can keep my labs attention a bit more in heelwork?  He trains with treats (toys just don't work!) He starts off close in the sit looking up but then when we move off, he puts his head down then looks up.  I have tried commands etc and I was even making bird sounds last night like a nutter but he still insisted on putting his head down.

He is too sensitive to give him a ooooiiiiiii look at me command as I have done this before and it prompted him to hide in between my legs!!

I am gonna keep him a bit more hungry for training for a start so that he really wants his treat.  He already trains with high value treats.

Any help please? cheers all xxx

Have you used hand touch/targeting?

oooh no - tell me more.  Used a clicker for some of his training.

Basically (quick version) teach the dog to touch your hand C & T, then shape for touching your outstretched hand held at nose height and in line with trouser seam at heel, gradually bring in hand to body and voila! :D  Shape duration etc with variable reinforcement.

No point in talking at all during heelwork as they will rightly ignore you unless you have anything of interest to say :D  Hate all this "talk to your dogs" which everyone is encouraged to do; the dog just switches off because the handler has become as interesting and exciting as "lift music"; neither does it have a clue what you want it to do; if you teach the dog to touch your hand you give it something it can understand!

HTH

I don't generally talk to him only to start off.  I hear some people all the way round saying look look look watch watch watch etc etc and the dogs must be thinking for god's sake shut up you silly woman!

that's brill advice so just start him off in front say and ask him to touch? then just basically move my arm and hand up to heelwork position? is that it?

Sounds easy in theory! ha ha

I have found doing a quick left about turn cues the dog in to keep watching the treat etc.  Also as Tohme says stop talking and the dog will listen more. Good Luck.:-)

Using C & T training obviously the dog will decide for himself to touch the hand then C & T once this is established on the move you can introduce the cue.  The dog will not do this if you keep a treat as a lure; the treat should only be produced once the dog has been clicked for offering the desired behaviour of keeping his nose pressed against your hand.

It does work extremely well.