Anybody who has worked with me knows I am fanatical about come when called. I encourage clients to look for ways to strengthen this behavior every day. Here's an eye contact game to try.
- First, in an area with minimal distraction, you are going to acknowledge the dog every time he turns and looks at you. You are not in any kind of formal situation. You have not said his name or asked for attention: he has offered it on his own.
- Use a clicker to mark the behavior if you are comfortable using one. If you don't use a clicker, say your YAY or YES or GOOD word just as the dog looks at you to check in. Remember to deliver the cookie AFTER the click. You are not luring the behavior--you are capturing behavior the dog initiates on his own.
- Now graduate to the outdoors. The dog will go farther away from you, and you will be ready for him to look back to see if you are coming, or just glance to see where you are. When he does, click or say your word, and then let him come to you for his cookie.
If the dog assumes you might be ready to play this game any time, he will be ready to offer you his attention. As you know, once you have his attention, you have the dog!
There is nothing more important than the COME WHEN CALLED. If you practice a little bit here and there, you'll be ready to get your dog back when a big scary surprise or distraction confronts him.
