Focus, Focus, Focus.... IDEAS PLEASE!!!

[Moo]

Agility of late has been rolling bricks up a hill. That's right. Big, heavy cubic bricks. We've got all obstacles down, all sorts of tricks perfected, but I'm in a living **** with focus... AGAIN. I've tried everything I can think of to try to build focus on me, but I don't see any improvement. I've been doing watch mes and down stays and sit stays and practising every day... I've tried treating him, playing tug, playing ball...

Next week is a member switch (old members to drop out, new members join) and I can only imagine that theres going to be more distractions then. There's already this AMAZINGLY fast malinois on the other side that's driving me mad, keeping Kirby's attention glued to the other side of 'the fence'; there's also a weim with this uncropped, wagging like mad tail. Kirby loves hair (hence jumping the pomeranian and eating the fur tufts in the corners) and it's driving me INSANE!!!

Ideas for focus building?

[Dax]

Ariel has great focus. I started by having treats and holding them near my face and saying ATTENTION. I gradually increased the amount of time before I dropped the treat. I'm lucky as I have two dogs so if she isn't paying attention when it drops - it goes to the one that is. I also play toss with treats so she has to watch not only me but the treat.

I've also heard (although I don't know if I would do) having a supply of bean bags. When dog's concentration wanders - a bean bag in the rump to get his attention back. They say not to let the dog see where they are coming from.

[Moo]

I do Watch me... sounds like your Attention. He's great, could stare for hours... until someone more itneresting comes buy, makes noise (he loves noise), or makes sudden movement in the corner of his eye. Once he sees it, he's off like a bullet. It's like he completely turns off the part of the brain that responds to me.

Beanbags... I use chains. Drop them on the ground behind him... Also works, until some other bigger, more interesting dog catches his attention. Then I could throw things, poke him, yell, he's off in some other world.

I've tried practising all this stuff in the front yard, as we live near a busy street.... pooooof. Never seen a dog ooze through the bars of a cast iron fence so fast before. Try it on a 6 foot lead... Woah, talk about rope burn, he's pulling, raspy barks because he's cutting off his own air. Funny, we can walk off leash and he has a perfect off leash heel, in synch, watches me, only me.... anywhere else is a big fat hole. This guy has my work cut out for me.

[Rip's Girl]

We're in the same boat.. It sounds to me like Kirby is just motivated by playing with other dogs more than he is by food or toys.. At least, that's the deal with my dog.

I've tried quite a few things with Ripley, the most recent one being a little adjustable whistle. I have it set to where it is quite loud, and Ripley is distracted by the 'bird' noise. You mentioned that Kirby loved noises, so if you haven't tried that, it might be worth a shot.

[Dax]

I hate to say it but maybe a training collar. He knows the commands but also knows there's not much to enforce them. See if any one has one to lend you to try it.

[AlphaMale]

I think my dog will decide based on what is more interresting. When he is busy playing nothing can be more interresting. He does not even hear me calling.

Now he undestand few command, but he is the one who call the shuts when to obey. That is not too good.

[Moo]

Ooh, Rip, that's a good idea! Why didn't I think of that, hmmm? Once, the squeaker popped out of one of his toys, and if I blew in it really hard, he would come a running from miles away. Whistle! Good one!

Dax, I thought about that. My thoughts though, were that he doesn't understand his own strength and speed and discomfort levels. Even when we were training heel on a stick lead, he pulled and pulled and pulled, cutting the air out of his own system, so I had to position his body myself. I'm also not allowed anything other than a flat collar in class, which is when I'll need it most.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[Moo]

Works like a charm, Rip. Stroke of genius. Noise for distracting, noise for recalling. Now, if the magic whistle can overcome the mighty distraction powers of the malinois, I'll be ecstatic.

[Leslie]

I missed this "discussion" as I was too busy at work to log on. Wanted to let you know I also use a whistle for my distractable dogs. Works really well. About the only time they don't respond to it is when they've got their noses full of a running dear. But even then, they come back much quicker than if I'm just calling them. Good luck.

[Leslie]

That was supposed to be deer.........not dear. Tired. Long, busy day. Pizza and a movie for dinner. Put my feet up and relax! Whew! So glad it's Friday.