Name Game
Level 1: Check In

You will learn:

• Observation
• ​Reinforcement

Your dog will learn:

• Offer behavior
• Give attention

The goal of this exercise is to capture and reinforce periodic eye contact, or “check-ins,” from your dog. 

uses for this behavior

• Name Game Levels 2–4
• Eye contact in response to name
• Focus on you in the presence of distractions.
• Maintaining contact with you when outdoors or separated.
• Frequent “check-ins” for possible new cues or when in doubt or concerned.

tips for success

• Repetitions of this skill should be interspersed with other activities, so the dog learns to check-in periodically.

Make it a game!

• Have a clicker and treats handy when moving around the house.
• Click if the dog checks in with eye contact.

Training Steps:

Step 1:
​To get your dog's focus in a difficult situation, use rapid fire reinforcement: Click/treat as quickly as you can just for being in front of you. Do this about 10 times.​

Click Points

• ​Being in front of you

Tag Points

• Click before the head lifts
• Drop treats between dog's feet

Step 2:
​Now that your dog is in the game, observe the dog. Click the moment he turns toward you.

Click Points

• ​Head turn towards you

Tag Points

• Toss treat to the side
• After you toss the treat, the tag point is: Move two steps

Step 3:
​Wait for the next head turn toward you, click, then treat, for each head turn in your direction (check-ins).

Click Points

• ​Head turn towards you

Tag Points

• Toss treat to the side
• After you toss the treat, the tag point is: Move two steps

Step 4:
Once the dog checks-in frequently, click for eye contact instead of the head turn.

Click Points

• Eye contact

Tag Points

• To get eye contact,
  the tag point is: Wait for it

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