The Zen Game

While taking my dogs Josie and Wyatt through their first training classes I learned a game called the "Zen Game". Put simply this is an exercise to teach your dog how to focus on you. Being able to get and keep your dogs attention is important especially if you encounter a situation where you dog become excited or agitated. As the leader it's our responsibility to reassure our dogs that we will protect them and the "Zen Game" helps teach them to look to us for their next action.

You can play this game anytime anywhere and your dog can be sitting or standing. When you're first starting out you'll want to have little to no distractions and a pocket full of yummy treats. Start by showing your dog you have a yummy treat, let him sniff it if you have to and then hold it just out of his reach and wait for him to settle and give you eye contact. Don't ask him to do anything, just stand or sit there and when your pup gives you brief eye contact say your marker word and then treat. Then start the process all over again. Let him know you have the treat and then wait for eye contact, mark the eye contact and treat.

Do this a few times a day for a couple of minutes and when you notice the eye contact happening almost immediately start increasing the length of time you hold it by a few seconds at a time. When you get what you want mark the look and treat. I added a verbal command once I was able to retain Wyatt and Josie's attention for at least 10 seconds. There are a few words you can use, consider using focus, look and here. The key is to choose a word that's easy for you to remember and use it consistently. Once you have your command word start adding it. Say "Focus" mark the eye contact and treat as soon as you see the behavior and again work on it a few times a day. Ask for his attention before you feed him. Start asking for attention on walks and reward looks you notice. As you progress with little to know distractions move to your backyard and work on the behavior and keep increasing the distraction level.

In a short period of time you'll notice your dog paying attention to you even when you don't ask and it's just as important to occasionally reward those times because this will keep your dog alert and excited to be with you because he'll never know when to expect that yummy reward.

While you're teaching your pup to focus on you, you should also continue to reinforce his name, and the sit command as well as add the down command.

Teaching your dog down is easier than you think. Start with your lure either a food treat or favorite toy and place it in front of their nose and proceed in a downward motion slowly moving the lure down and away toward the front paws. Slide the treat away from your pups nose and their hindquarters should hit the floor. Mark the behavior and treat. If your dog is a little more stubborn about putting his butt down break the command down into smaller parts. Lure your dog down and mark the position where your dog’s front paws and nose are on the floor. Slowly work toward moving the treat away to encourage your dog to drop its hindquarters.

Remember to keep it short, have fun and stay calm and consistent. Until next time Woof, Woof and a Roo!

(Disclaimer: I am not a certified trainer or behaviorist, I am sharing
what has worked for me and my dogs. I strongly advise all owners of
dogs regardless of age to participate in positive dog training classes
with certified or proven trainers. You can find trainer in your area by
visiting APDT.)