Luna level 3 - eye contact food

Can you explain what exercise you did exactly to teach her her name? Type it out for me step-by-step please so that I can make sure I understand. I want to make sure that this eye contact game does not contradict what she already knows - because this is not the only way to teach eye contact, so we can tweak things if necessary.

Marker communication is super important for this game. After we mark, they are allowed to look back at the food again. We would not expect the dog to stare into our eyes as we deliver the treat and they chew it. So, it should look like this:

1) food goes out

2) dog makes eye contact for whatever duration you expect from them

3) "yes"

4a) dog is allowed to look wherever they want because the task is complete

4b) hand moves to deliver treat

I personally do not praise my dogs during this game until they're REALLY good at it. The praise just throws them off.

So, let's do this a little differently. Expect less from her, because I want to eliminate this glancing pattern. Glancing is to be expected when the dog is tempted and not committed to eye contact, but that's not what's happening here. Luna is glancing because she's not sure when it's time for eye contact and when she's done, because of the words you're saying.

Put the treat out.

Wait for just 1 second of eye contact.

"Yes."

Deliver the treat.

Also 😁

1 yes = 1 cookie.

Every time.

If you don't intend to deliver a treat relatively immediately, don't say "yes." Just praise her.

But, like I said - for this exercise specifically, don't do any praise while she's making eye contact, because it usually does not help.

At least we can SEE her eyes, I need to take video classes from all of you... Oona is just a dark smudge in mine.