This is actually a two-part activity made up of the commands, “Paws Up!” and “Look!” This activity helps a dog with impulse control. It also helps them to focus on you while they are in a confident position—head up, paws up, body forward, eyes on you.
When your dog has confidence in themselves, and connection with you, you can more easily shape their behaviors to what you want them to be.
In this activity, your dog will approach a stepping stool, place both front paws up on the stool, and then wait in that position while looking up at you, until you release them.
Setting up for the Activity
For this activity we recommend that, as much as possible, you “ditch the bowl,” which means that you temporarily feed your dog their daily portions through training rewards, rather than in their bowl.
Use the hand/finger position taught in the Follow My Hands (Apple #3). Take several pieces of food in the palm of your hand, and dispense pieces with your thumb by rolling them from your palm to your fingertips.
If you are not feeling kind, calm, and confident, do not train your dog until you are in a better mental state. Kindness is a choice, calmness takes practice, and confidence comes with education, which will grow as you master this activity.
Activity Steps for Paws Up
Lure the dog towards a stepping stool with your fingers pressed together, treat inside. As you get to the stool, pass your hand over the stool while your dog follows it, and places the front two paws on the stool.
As soon as the front two paws are on the stool, mark the desired behavior with a “Yes!” and treat immediately. The time of the marker word is very important. It needs to happen in the very moment your dog succeeds. Without that specific marker, your dog will be confused about what you are asking them to do.
After several times, switch to “Yes! Paws Up!” to associate the command with the desired behavior.
Activity Steps for Look
When they are in the “paws up” position, bring your treat hand up to your face they are following up to your face. As you do this, lift the index finger of that hand to point to your eyes, and say, “Look!”
As soon as your eyes connect, mark the desired behavior with a “Yes!” and treat. The marker needs to happen in the very moment your dog succeeds. Without that specific marker, your dog will be confused what what you are asking them to do. And once they succeed, make sure to praise them.
As your dog starts to get the hang of it, change “Yes!” to “Yes! Look!” to associate the command with the desired behavior.
Play the game for up to 10 minutes, or until they struggle to succeed. Always end on a success, so you can treat and praise, always making this game a positive experience for you and your dog.
If your dog is struggles, consider the three D’s—distance, duration, and distraction. Shorten the distance between you, or the length of time you require them to obey before rewarding, or lessen any distractions (noises, children, other dogs, etc).
Training Pattern
At first, you start by using a treat to encourage your dog to perform a desired behavior. Then reward them with the marker word “yes,” accompanied by a treat.
Second, you do the same thing, but you add the command to the marker word by saying, “Yes! Paws Up!” or “Yes! Look!” This associates the command with the desired behavior.
Third, you do everything the same, except that you speak the command word as you begin. You will continue using a treat in your hand to encourage your dog. Each time they are successful, say “Yes!” (no need to add the command word here), and treat.
Finally, you will begin by speaking the command, and when your dog succeeds at the desired behavior, no treat or follow-up “Yes!” is needed.
The body language of passing your hand over the stool and bringing your finger to your eyes should always accompany the spoken command. Body language is even more important than the spoken command.
Training Over Time
For the first several times, you are treating when paws go up on the stool, and when they look at you.
As you repeat this activity, gradually extend the amount of time that passes while they are looking at your eyes before treating.
Eventually, you will randomize the treating—sometimes when paws go up, other times after they look at you for varying amounts of time, and then you will not always treat for each command.
As you dog gains a good grasp of this activity, consider the three D’s again. Now, increase the distance as you train, require a longer duration before rewarding, and add in distractions to help your dog succeed at higher and higher levels.
Note: The “Look!” command isn’t just used in conjunction with “Paws Up!”, but can be also be used in other situations when you want your dog to make eye contact with you.
