Chapter 7
🐾 Removing the hand from the armpit
Now we finally start removing the hand from the armpit.
We begin exactly as before:
➡️ The dog sits in the basic position on your left side
➡️ Your right hand is under your left armpit
➡️ The dog is focused on that point
Then simply take your hand away and let it hang naturally at your side.
Use a mirror or a helper to check whether your dog continues to look under the armpit.
If the dog follows the hand with his eyes at first, that is completely normal.
Simply repeat:
➡️ Hand under the armpit
➡️ Hand away
➡️ Hand back under the armpit
As soon as the dog keeps looking at the correct focal point, give your marker word, for example “Yes”, bring the hand back under the armpit and reward.
👀 Do not accidentally change the focus point
Especially in the beginning, avoid constantly looking down at your dog.
Your face naturally attracts a lot of attention, and if the dog starts focusing on your face instead of the armpit, you may unintentionally change the position you have worked so hard to build.
A mirror, a helper or a quick glance from the corner of your eye can help you check the dog without giving additional cues.
You continue practicing until the dog can confidently keep his focus under the armpit even when your hand is gone.
A good benchmark is:
✅ You can occasionally look down at your dog
✅ The dog still keeps his focus under the armpit
🏡 Keep this technical work at home
This step is still practiced at home.
It is technical work, and we want to keep the training field connected to fun, energy and motivation.
📍 The reward point is extremely important
One of the most important things in this entire step is the correct reward point.
When rewarding, your hand should always return to the exact place where you want the dog to look:
right under the left armpit.
Do not let the reward drift forward towards your chest.
Dogs quickly anticipate where the reward will appear. If the reward point moves forward, the dog may also start moving his head and body forward.
Also make sure to reward in a way that supports the extended head position, rather than pulling the dog's head down or forward.
💡 If anything, reward slightly further back rather than too far forward.
⏱️ Gradually increase the duration
At first, the hand only disappears briefly.
Later, gradually increase the time until your dog can keep the correct focal point for two to three seconds or longer without becoming unsure.
If the dog starts searching for your face again, you have probably progressed a little too quickly.
🐕🦺 The goal is a dog that confidently maintains the same focal point even when the familiar hand cue disappears.