It’s ok! We’re here to help. We speak a little dog and can help translate for both of you. It’s probably just a miscommunication! And we are here to help get you both speaking the same language! Woof!
Connect with the PAWpundance training team and other members of the dog community to discuss better ways to communicate with your furry house guest.
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When you want to get your pup to be able to calm down and start to respond to stay/wait/leave it/walk away etc cues - you need to just have a little calm eye contact to begin. When I’m working with new clients, I like to work with the pup first and get the pup to and understanding, then work with the client. This is a two part skill. It’s not just about the pup understanding, it’s also about the hooman having “instructional control” (we will have a more in depth video about this concept later - right now it’s just about the pup). Just realize - its not all the dog, this is a conversation. We are working together to reach an understanding. To begin, Ted is staying here - but I’m holding his attention.
So he’s in a sit. And we have rewarded him for eye contact enough that he understands that eye contact is good. So if you watch the video again - you’ll see how comfortable he is looking in my eyes.
Early on in training, a puppy or a rescue pup might not be that comfortable. This is why training really is about the relationship. Ted, his owner and our whole team have spend time bonding so that he understands eye contact. When I meet a new dog and do an initial assessment, eye contact is one of the things I’m looking for. Dogs have their own value for eye contact.
We search each other’s eyes for meaning. We look into each other’s eye see way more eye balls. Dogs watch your eyes but don’t “stare” at you unless they feel threatened by you. Dogs have a number of behaviors that Turid Rugaas has coined “calming signals”. A look-away is actually a very polite gesture in dog lingo. This means the pup looks at you, looks away and then looks back... hello. You look-away and look back.... hi back - very polite!
Now we have to teach them hooman! Eye contact is lovely!! We love it!!
I have Ted watching me, he’s panting me... and when he calms - closing his mouth and watching me - click!! and reward! Ted did a very good job!
I will continue to post more videos in this segment but here’s the progression:
1. Eye contact “Look!”
2. Sitting for just a moment with calm behavior
3. Duration, Distraction, Distance
4. Leave it/Body block
5. Walk away
It starts slow and tedious but suddenly sometimes with click and your pup will get it. So don’t push to fast too soon. But be ready! When it clicks be ready to be amazed at how awesome your pup can be!!
Great Job TED!!
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We want to see your furbabies!
We’re here to assist with any questions you may have about training, behavior, and more. At PAWpundance, we believe in blending knowledge with a bit of fun—expect plenty of paws, puns, and maybe even a dance or two! Together, let’s enjoy some laughs and build stronger relationships with our pups.
Our Philosophy:
We’ve invited another species to live in our homes, and our dogs are much more than accessories; they’re our guests. They don’t speak our language, and like in the movie E.T., we don’t want to be the intimidating figures trying to coerce a scared, confused being. Instead, we want to be like ...
Eye Contact, Eye Contact, Eye Contact!
Reward every glance. Start by reinforcing brief glances, then encourage your pup to hold your gaze a bit longer. Gradually phase out your part of the eye contact—your pup will learn to watch you and adapt to your movements naturally. This approach helps them learn to walk with you without relying on leash cues.
Remember, the leash is purely for safety—not for communication.
Take a look at this video with Meghan and Buckee. Buckee is watching Meghan closely, and she rewards him by making eye contact, smiling, and offering treats. Meghan also looks forward occasionally, teaching Buckee to walk with her in sync.
Notice that Buckee is a reactive pup, so the leash is essential for safety, especially if he responds to something unexpectedly. However, it’s only used for physical control when necessary. When Buckee refocuses, Meghan reestablishes instructional control, and they continue their walk together. She does a fantastic job of engaging with him! In ...
Loose-Leash Walking Tip:
Where you reward makes a big difference! Try using the hand on the same side as your dog when giving treats or praise.
When you reach across your body to reward with the opposite hand, it draws your dog’s nose in front of you, encouraging them to move ahead and potentially start pulling.
In the video of Meghan and Domino, Meghan holds the leash with her left hand while Domino walks on her right. She rewards him by petting and giving treats with her right hand. This keeps Domino walking by her side on a loose leash, rather than in front, pulling her along.
Next time you’re out walking with your pup, try rewarding with the hand on the same side as your dog.
https://twitter.com/wholedogjournal/status/1295508215740932098?s=21
How to teach you pup to be a good dining companion! What a great skill!
https://twitter.com/wholedogjournal/status/1292609106637987840?s=21
This is about counter-surfers, but I love the description of trying to shame dogs. This author, Pat Miller helped me understand this concept in her book the Power of Positive Dog Training.
If you’re still on Twitter, the Whole Dog Journal is a great group to follow. Lots of fantastic info!
