The eyes have it!

8:31am Wednesday 16th January 2008

Dog expert Howard Kirby writes: FOR the training of any canine pupil to be successful, it is essential that the dog willingly offers us eye contact.

Watch any pupils, either human or canine, and you will immediately get a feel for the quality of the teaching.

Is the pupil interested in the teacher? Is he or she watching, listening and wanting to please the teacher?

Many animal handlers lavish far too much praise, and often at the wrong moment, to the young pup and this can lead to the puppy becoming numbed to the pleasure a pupil can get after pleasing the teacher.

Sometimes, less is more - inappropriate praise can in fact be counter productive.

Encourage your pup to work to gain your approval.

Provide a well-balanced environment coupled with a professional approach to training and you will have your puppy looking longingly into your eyes, eager for your attention and leadership.

Put it this way. If I could persuade my girlfriend to look at me the way that my dogs do, life would be much easier!

Get your dog offering you eye contact and you will find it much easier to instil basic obedience!

If you have a doggy problem to solve, contact Howard through the Midweek Advertiser and he will do his best to answer your query in a future issue.