Train Your Dog With Direct Eye Contact
Train Your Dog With Direct Eye Contact
There is always an alpha figure or leader in every wolf pack. This alpha figure wolf can be male or female, usually the former, controls many aspects of the other wolves lives in the pack. Often to the extent of urination and defecation rights and spots. Dogs are directly descended, therefore, related to wolves but now live with human beings like us. Problems often arise when an individual dog, either through his genes from its ancestors or improper training by his owner, may comes to think of itself as the alpha figure or the leader of the pack.If your dog carries the notion that he is the leader, you may be in trouble. How can and do you know? Usually if you face behavioral problems with your dog, you are likely not considered as the leader irregardless how you think you are viewed by your dog.
Dog Training Through Direct Eye Contact
One effective way to establish your leadership and control is to simply engage direct eye contact with your dog. Normally, you will think that your dog look at you quite frequently, but take a moment to recall about the condition for your dog to do so. Does your dog only look at you when he feels like it? That is not the same type of eye contact. Your dog looked at you only because he wants something. You should try to establish eye contact on your dog on your terms by formalizing the "look at me" process.
Method Of Establishing Eye Contact With Your Dog
Try taking your dog on a leash and command him to 'Sit'. Hold a little upward tension on the leash, bend down and touch your dog's head and immediately bring your hand upwards to your eye level. At the same time, make a snapping sound with your fingers and say to your dog "Look up here at me Leslie (your dog's name)."Don't just murmur to your dog's name or say "Hey, look here". It won't be sufficient to get the dog to look and lock eyes with you. What you should be aiming for is about three to four seconds of solid direct eye contact when your dog. Your dog should look up at you with the attitude of "your are my leader or owner". Make sure that after you touch your dog's head and immediately have your eyes looked straight at your dog eyes. Make sure that your dog truly looks up at you and not you looking down at your dog.
Praise Your Dog At The End Of Training Session
Once you managed to lock eye contacts with your dog, end the session with some light verbal praise such as, "Good boy. Leslie"! Then leave your dog alone and go about doing your things. Do not have to worry about leaving your dog sitting there wondering "What was that all about"?
Your dog will gradually realize that it is about 'Looking at my owner's eyes when I'm asked to do so,. Understanding that my owner is the leader'. This is a wonderful training for any puppy or older dog, especially if your dog face behavioural problem, because the direct eye contact practised regularly will start to overflow into your dog's daily life so that he becomes more alert and will look at you from anywhere and at anytime.
Didn't know that eye contact with dogs is so important. Interesting articles. Thanks!