#DogTraining is SO MUCH FUN! I love watching my pup learn new things.
I took Zoe on a walk around the block yesterday, teaching her proper leash walking. I also wanted her to be checking in with me regularly. So, I waited until she randomly looked at me, and rewarded her with kibble and praise.
A couple of minutes later, she randomly looked at me again, and got the same reward. It hit her: "wait what? I just look at you and good stuff happens?"
She looked at me every 20-30 secs after that 😂
I use a program called Learn to Earn, by the late Dr. Sophia Yin. It worked wonders with Beau as a 3-year-old rescue, and it's working just as well with our 8-week-old puppy, Zoe.
The fundamentals of it are that you control the dog's environment (and thus, their access to random reinforcement) and there's no free food. You train them with kibble, and the only place they get kibble is from your hand.
@nomadave What breeds are Beau and Zoe? What types of temperaments?
We adopted a dog recently that we later learned is part #BelgianMalinios. They are a very energetic and intense breed. It’s a challenge to get her to shift her focus when we’re out of the house.
@tsubtext Beau is a long-haired German Shepherd and Zoe is a Husky.
Huskies are known for being high energy, though they're both super chill for the most part. Being a puppy, Zoe has bursts of puppy energy, especially in the morning. She's literally bouncing off the ground with energy.
How old is your dog, and what is she doing when you're out of the house?
@nomadave I missed your response back in December somehow.
My dog is now getting close to a year and a half old. And by out of the house, I mean when we’re out of the house together - going for walks or in a park. She listens beautifully in the house, but is very independent and intense when outside. She’s actually doing remarkably better since I posted this in December though, so consistent training has had a strong impact.
Dave the Nomad 
Tacit Subtext