The Name Game: Building Attention

Overview

Your dog's name is the foundation of every other cue. If you can't get attention, you can't train anything. The Name Game builds a reflex: hear name → head snaps to you → get reward.

Why it matters

A name that has been used mostly for scolding stops working as an attention-getter. Protect the name.

Watch: demonstration

[VIDEO PLACEHOLDER] Rapid-fire name game demo — 10 reps in 20 seconds. — trainer to attach a video via the admin uploader.

Step by step

1. Say your dog's name once, in a friendly tone.

2. The instant they turn toward you, mark and treat.

3. If they don't respond, make a kissy noise — mark the head-turn when it happens.

4. Practice in quiet rooms first, then gradually add distractions.

5. Never use the name as a warning or reprimand.

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER] Dog's head snapping around to look at the handler on cue. — trainer to upload one or more still images.

Common mistakes

• Repeating the name over and over ("Rex, Rex, Rex...") — say it once.

• Using the name for corrections — pick a different word.

• Rewarding late — the mark must happen at the moment of the head-turn.

Practice this week

Ten name-game reps three times a day for a week.