The Name Game

Teaching your dog to look at you when you call their name (because your dog is not born knowing their name!) If your dog can do this – then they are ready to listen to your other cues such as “sit”, “down”, “stay” or “come”.

• Train when your dog is hungry and have yummy treats or a reinforcer that the dog really likes ie. tug toy, ball or Kong toy. Start in a quiet place.
• Wait until the dog looks at you then say a marker word like “yes”  or “great” or use your clicker then follow up with a treat.
• When the dog is reliable at this then add in the dog’s name as they look at you. For example say “Max” as he is starting to look at you . Reward the dog if it is successful.
• Then start saying the dog's name first ie. "Max" and reward if the dog looks at you
• Then start to reward faster and faster responses ignoring the slow ones and rewarding fast ones.
• Repeat in small increments with increasing distractions.
• Take the behaviour on the road - train on walks, at the park, at a friend's house
• Remember each time you make it more difficult by either increasing distractions or training somewhere new go back to kindergarten and make the exercise easy by rewarding them for looking, then add back in their name, then work up to calling their name first and having them respond.
• If the dog is not successful, the dog is not being stubborn, dominant, evil, vindictive or disobedient (which is what some families assume)  – you are simply asking for something too difficult too soon.  Go back to simple small steps and build for success.