This seems like some good information...

How to Train Your Dog to Pay Attention

Spit Food at Your Dog

If he doesn't catch it, don't let him pick it up or go back to the spot on the floor to lick it. It's a game of spit and catch with hot dogs. It won't take long for him to stare at your face with great intensity.

Speak Softly

If you speak softly your dog will need to pay closer attention, not to mention this is an excellent habbit. Your dog can hear better than you, speak softly.

Change Direction on Lead
In the house

Put a short lead on your dog and attach it to your belt loop. Walk around your house and don't pay attention to your dog. Just go about your business and drag him around. It won't take him long to start paying attention to your every move. Do this for 15 minute intervals.

Outside

Place your dog on a short leash and go for a walk on a grass field. When walking suddenly change diretion, won't look at your dog or say anything. Don't jerk too hard on the leash when turning, you don't want to hurt him. Do not do this using a choke or prong collar.

Training Dogs to Pay Attention / Sport Dog Training

My trainer has 2 German Shepherds that she uses to demonstrate. These are very accomplished dogs. One thing I've noticed is how they just sit in front of her and follow her every move, watching her face the entire time she's talking to us. I would imagine they're waiting to see if she's going to spit a hot dog chunk at them.

For me, there is always a consequence for the dog looking away. It might be a leash pop, a push away, a butt tag, dropping a toy or treat on the floor and grabbing it before they can get it, SOMETHING. I NEVER allow heeling to go on if the dog is not looking. As soon as the dog looks away, I do something about it. I can't tell you how many people I see will let their dogs lose attention for half the ring before they address it. As soon as my dog looks away, I don't want to take another step of heeling.

I do spit treats for fronts, because I want them looking up at me when they come to front. I don't spit treats on heeling because I don't want them looking at my face, that is too far forward and will cause them to forge/crab.

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Jodie

AJ's Maiden By the Sea CDX RE (Annabel - retired)
Mud E Paws UDX OM2 RE OBHF (Conner - retired with 28 OTCH points)
Sunfire's Flying Head Over Heels UD BN RA (Flip)
And the odd one of the family - Colby Jack Teeter Smack CDX GO RA (Colby - Lhasa Apso)

Goldens 3,4, and 5 were trained to hand target. So to teach them to heel, they would follow my hand, then my finger(smaller target). The problem you are having is that you are luring. It is basically a bribe to get your dog to heel. I would try to get one or two steps of heeling without food,then reward from my right hand.. I would take baby steps... And work up to more heeling. Also using a variable system of reward will help. My friend who has helped me get most of my fourteen titles on my dogs is against luring for exactly the reasons you are having trouble... Will not talk about Goldens 6-10!!!

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Janice and The Celebration Gang -
"Samantha, George, Tiki, Emily, Mick and Basil" Gone but not forgotten, Sally(Windjammer's Ima Country Girl CDX CGC), Laney(Mandell Marlenes Celebration UD RA CGC), and Cookie(Starseeker's Kissmas Cookie CDX RE CGC).

I agree with Sally's Mom. I was using treats to teach Bentley to heel but when it's 22F out I'm not into fumbling with treats so since I had already taught him "touch" my left hand that's how I'm training him to heel now and it's working out really well.
I do the same thing in the house now, instead of telling him where I want him to go (puppy jail, crate, bed ect) I move my left hand toward that place and he just goes.

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That sounds good, but how did you teach them to follow your hand? Is there a YouTube video that you're aware of?

Tonight is the 2nd to last night of her beginning obedience class. She needs to be able to do it with no treats next week.



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Considering this is beginning obedience, why exactly is your instructor pushing you to do something without treats?

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Mine are more or less clicker trained. So first, I held my hand out and when the pup touched it, I clicked and treated... When the pattern was established, I would say, "touch" when the pup touched my hand. Then I make a game of following my hand to touch..then treat... When the dog is following my hand, I start to teach heel. Literally one step then reward... Gradually increase the expectation for sustainability...

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Janice and The Celebration Gang -
"Samantha, George, Tiki, Emily, Mick and Basil" Gone but not forgotten, Sally(Windjammer's Ima Country Girl CDX CGC), Laney(Mandell Marlenes Celebration UD RA CGC), and Cookie(Starseeker's Kissmas Cookie CDX RE CGC).

No treats is just for graduation night. I don't know if that is the norm or not. She's actually going to judge it like a competition.

If we could use treats, Bella wouldn't have any competition from that group. Without treats? Who knows?

I just came back from class, got some ideas from the instructor, and she demonstrated one of them with Bella. Hold treats in hands, and raise arms to the side parallel to floor. Sit dog in front of you, and say "watch" to get them to look you in the eye. As soon as they look at you, move one your hands to your mouth, and then reach down to give her the treat. Keep repeating until they focus on your face. The idea is to get them to think the treat is coming from your mouth. Obviously this goes hand in hand with storing treats in your mouth for training. I tried it as soon as I got home, and she figured it out fairly quickly.




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Sounds like a good idea.

Wow, there are so many ways to train a dog, it's enough to make your head spin.

I took your advice at class tonight. I treated from my right hand, and only on the halts. She seem to do fine with that. Thanks.