Look at that
In this video I’m teaching Gus to look at other dogs when I point and say “look at that.” Gus is afraid of other dogs and I would like to teach him that other dogs are actually a really great experience. We will work at a distance first so Gus stays calm and in a good place for learning.
I say look at that and gesture towards the other dog. As soon as Gus looks at the other dog, I cheerfully say “yes” and reward him. I created training sessions where Gus could practice “look at that” in lots of repetitions so he really got the hang of it and understood the words (i.e. verbal cue = “look at that).
We started training with a fake dog (Diane the poodle!) and then moved on to training around one of my dogs called Sprocket. Finally you get to see Gus doing his training in real life when we see a Golden Labrador while out for a walk.
Build Confidence
Gus is fearful of other dogs. If they get too close he will lunge and snap. He has had some experiences with dogs that scared him and he is now understandable defensive. The first step for helping Gus overcome his fear is to help him have good experiences around other dogs. The “Look at that” game can help your dog build confidence around almost ANYTHING they are afraid of… dogs, people, children, cars… anything they can see.
Marking the look
One helpful technique for this training game is “marking the look” – this means saying “yes” (or clicking) exactly when your dog looks at the other dog. Then reward your dog with a tasty treat.
Use good treats
Remember the better the treat, the more powerful the message for your dog. We generally use high value treats like sausage or dog meat when working with fearful dogs unless there is a good reason not to (allergies, weight control etc).
Keep a safe distance
Always train your fearful dog at a safe distance from the thing they are afraid of. This might be necessary to ensure everyone’s safety. It also very important that your dog doesn’t get overwhelmed during training sessions, or they are unlikely to make progress with reducing fear. Keep an eye on your dog and how they are coping and move at their pace.
Resolving fear
Gus is afraid of other dogs. Is your dog fearful of anything they see while out on walks? Teach them to “look at that” and turn their “yikes” fear reaction into a “yippee” food reaction when they see thing that scares them.
Have fun, ask questions!
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