Eyes on the prize

I am having one or two problems in getting my 10-month-old dog to mark the fall of a training dummy. He is reluctant to take his eyes off me and, as a result, does not watch the dummy’s flight when I throw it. Have you any suggestions?

Fran says: Some young dogs have this quirk and, although it tends to disappear as time passes and they gain experience of the real thing, it can be frustrating for the trainer. Assuming that he is absolutely steady, put the dog on the drop, walk off a little way, attract his attention and throw the dummy, trying to let him ‘get the picture’ of the dummy’s flight as you do so by pointing in the direction of the fall as you release the dummy. Return to the dog before you send him to retrieve.

Alternatively, it is helpful to enlist an assistant to do the throwing for you and get the assistant to make a noise – a shout perhaps – as he throws the dummy.