Name/Focus (Watch Me)
Teaching Bryn to look at you when she hears her name — the gateway to every other skill.
Adolescent Note
An adolescent dog's attention is pulled in every direction by a brain that's wired for novelty. Name focus may regress — this is normal. Go back to high-value rewards and short durations when it does. Don't blame Bryn; just make responding to her name pay better than whatever else is happening.
Training Stages
Charge Bryn's name as a cue that predicts good things, with no behavior required.
- Say "Bryn" in a warm, upbeat tone.
- The moment she gives any sign of acknowledging you (ear flick, head turn, glance), mark ("yes!").
- Deliver a treat.
- Repeat 10–15 times per session, 2–3 sessions a day.
Advance When
Bryn orients toward you within 1 second of hearing her name, 9 out of 10 times in a quiet environment.
Watch Out
Saying her name when you can't follow through with a reward (or when you're about to do something she dislikes).
Repeating the name multiple times — say it once, then wait.
Tips
Start in a boring room with no distractions.
Use her name as a "good things are coming" signal throughout the day.
Build from a glance to sustained eye contact on cue.
- Say "Bryn" or "watch me."
- When she looks at your face, mark and treat immediately at first.
- Gradually wait for 1 second of eye contact before marking, then 2, then 3.
- Build up to 5 seconds of calm, relaxed eye contact.
Advance When
Bryn holds eye contact for 3 seconds after hearing her name, 8 out of 10 times, in a low-distraction environment.
Watch Out
Holding a treat by your face to lure attention — this teaches 'follow the treat,' not 'look at my eyes.'
Increasing duration too fast. If she breaks eye contact, you asked for too much.
Tips
Reward from your pocket or a treat pouch, not from your hand near your face.
Keep it light and happy. Eye contact should feel like a fun game, not a staring contest.
Proof the name response against environmental temptations.
- Practice in increasingly distracting environments: new room → backyard → on walks.
- Call her name when she's mildly distracted (sniffing, looking at something).
- Mark and reward generously when she turns to you.
- If she doesn't respond, move closer and try again. Don't repeat the cue.
Advance When
Bryn responds to her name outdoors with moderate distractions, turning to make eye contact within 2 seconds.
Watch Out
Testing in environments that are too stimulating too soon.
Using her name constantly without following up ("Bryn, Bryn, BRYN!") — this teaches her the name is background noise.
Tips
Match the reward to the difficulty. Easy focus in the kitchen = kibble. Turning away from a squirrel = roast chicken.
This skill is the foundation of everything. Invest heavily here.
Proofing — The 3 Ds
⏱
Duration
Build from a glance (0.
📏
Distance
Start at arm's length.
🐿️
Distraction
Quiet room → other rooms → backyard → front yard → on walks → near other dogs/people.
Generalization
Practice in every room of the house, in the car, in the yard, on walks, at stores that allow dogs. The more places she practices this, the more automatic it becomes. Have Tanvi practice too — Bryn should respond to her name from anyone in the family.
Troubleshooting
Bryn looks at you but immediately looks away
You're asking for too long. Mark and treat the instant she makes eye contact. Build duration in half-second increments.
Bryn ignores her name outside
The outdoor environment is too stimulating for her current level. Move to a less distracting outdoor space, increase the treat value dramatically, and start from Stage 1 distance.
Related Skills
Recall (Come)
Teaching Bryn to come reliably when called — the most important safety skill you'll teach.
Leave It
Teaching Bryn to disengage from something tempting on cue — a critical safety skill and impulse control builder.