Dog Training Made Easy

To watch is the most important exercise you will teach your dog.
When we say WATCH, we want the dog to give us their undivided attention.
When we give any command (heel, drop, stand etc.) your dog must be watching you.
If they are not watching you what is the point of giving hand signals. The example I give my class is, if you’re sitting across the table from your son and he’s looking out of the window and you ask him to put out the rubbish bin, what are the chances the rubbish bin will go outside? Now if you were to get your son’s attention (eye contact) and then ask him, your chances that the bin will go outside are much higher.
With a dog the chances they will watch, heel closely, drop, stand etc. are much higher. So how do we teach your dog to WATCH you? The best method I know of is to place a distraction such as treat in your right hand and extend it out to the side and get your dog to look at the treat.
Then call your dog using the dogs name. As soon as you get any eye contact (even a glance) give the command WATCH and give your dog the treat and praise. Repeat this and in time it will be hard to get your dog to look at the treat at all. Then you start giving the treat intermittently.
You can also make a game out of watching when your dog is not expecting a command i.e. Your dog walks past you in the hallway, give the command WATCH and as soon as there is eye contact give your dog the treat and praise. Next time use the command WATCH don’t give your dog a treat but give your dog a lot of praise.
Use the command WATCH when doing left turns or anytime your dog is not watching you and you wish to give a command such as STAND or DROP. Whenever you leave your dog there is also a good opportunity to get in that command WATCH.