How to Train Your Dog to Watch You:

Curious about how to regain your pup's attention while in a busy park or crowd? The "Watch Me" command is a simple and quick solution. Learn how to use it here.

The "Watch Me" Command

“Watch Me” way to make eye contact.

When to use: This particular command will become your ‘go-to’ command when you are in need of restoring control of your curious fuzzy four-legged family member both off and on leash.
Teaching Method:

Step 1 : Environment for Success

Make sure your puppy is in a controlled atmosphere, with minimal distractions, on the leash, and that you have lots of small yummy treats readily available.

Step 2: Learning the Behavior

Become completely silent. Use simply no commands and focus all your attention on your pup.
Keep a treat in each hands.
Bring both hands to your pup’s nose, allowing your puppy to smell the goodies.
Note: Do not give your own pup the treats however. This is just to let them know they are there.
Lengthen your arms. Keep them aside and out of reach of your puppy.
Wait. Your pup will most likely look at your hands and may actually jump for your hands, however, you will not react. You just wait around with no words.
At the precise moment you and your dog’s eye meet, even if it’s simply half a second, you incentive the behavior with a “YES! ” while dropping both hands ahead and dispensing both goodies.

Note: You are marking the required behavior by reinforcing that will looking at you is good and rewarding.

Step 3: Reinforcing the Behavior

Repeat the series until you see your pup realizes that looking into your eyes may be the behavior that will result in getting a reward.

Step 4: Integrating the particular Command

With both arms prolonged, treats in hand, say the particular command “Watch Me”.
Notice: You only say the control once, remember your puppy does not speak ‘Human’, so that your pup does not understand what “Watch Me” means just yet.

In the exact moment your eye meet, even for just fifty percent a second, you reward the behaviour with a “YES! Watch Me personally! YES! ” while shedding both hands in front of you and dishing out both treats.

Repeat stage 4b until your puppy is looking at you the instant you say “Watch Me”.

Step 5: Extended Eye-to-eye contact

Once your pup will be performing the task easily, request more. With your arms nevertheless extended, delay dispensing the particular reward for a full 3 count, or the length of this particular statement “Watch Me…That’s It…Watch Me. ” At the completing the statement say “YES! ” while dropping both of your hands in front of you and dispensing each treats.

Note: Your puppy must keep full eye-to-eye contact with you to receive the incentive. If Buster’s eyes stroll, quickly say “No! ” accompanied by “Watch Me” and go back to step 4. Buster is not totally ready to hold eye contact however.

Goal: Ultimately, you want your own pup to hold eye contact along with you for 20 seconds whilst your arms are completely extended. Once successfully achieving this goal three times regularly, you are ready to move on in order to step 6.

Step 6: Reducing Cues

Now that you have effectively completed step 5, location your arms by your side, making sure your pup cannot achieve the treats, and replicate steps 4 and five.

Congratulations, you have successfully finished the “Watch Me” coaching tip. At this point, your own creativeness will need to come into play. The particular command “Watch Me” may be used when your pup is prone or across the room. Use “Watch Me” when a person gets into your quiet room, or even in the yard as an individual or animal walks simply by. Good Luck!