HOW TO MAKE YOUR DOG PAY ATTENTION

How do you get your dog to pay attention and follow directions? Scientists at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, strapped eye-tracking helmets to 20 dogs to detect exactly where the pooches looked when they were confronted with a range of scenarios. Each dog faced a scientist on their knees. A bowl was placed on each side of the scientist, only one of which contained a hidden treat. The dogs were then presented with five different scenarios:
– The scientist would point at the bowl while staring at the dog.
– They’d point and look at the bowl at the same time.
– They’d look only at the bowl.
– They’d throw a ball in the direction of the bowl.
– They pretended to throw a ball in the direction of the bowl, while really keeping it in their hand.
Dogs fared best when the scientist both pointed and stared at the bowl that contained the treat. They did the worst when the scientists pretended to throw the ball.
* I thought the best way to get a dog to pay attention was to put a piece of bacon up your nose. It works on my kids.
* “Each dog faced a scientist on their knees.” That’s mean, making dogs get on their knees. It’s painful for them.
* I’m unclear on how staring and pointing at a bowl will teach my dog not to jump on houseguests.
* Just give them the damn treat. They’re so stupid, it’s not worth torturing dogs like this.