If you don't have attention, you cannot ask your dog to do anything...he's not listening to you. How does one teach attention? First, have a lot of treats, cut into tiny pieces, about the size of a pea (use pea size treats whether you have a 100 pound Great Dane or 6 pound Yorkie) place them on a table, high enough that the dog cannot reach them. Put your dog on a leash and tie him to you or step on it. Take a few of your treats in your hand and now you wait. What are you waiting for? You are waiting for "first contact" from your dog. This is the point where your dog finally stops looking around and turns his head to see if you are still there. AT THAT INSTANT, say the word "yes" really excited and give the dog some treats.
 
        The word "YES" means the dog just did something right. You can also use an operant conditioning method called clicker training. This is a new way of teaching behavior using a clicker, a toy that makes a cricket noise, as your "yes" signal, or conditioned reinforcer.  If you choose to use a clicker, substitute the word "yes" with a click and a treat.  Which ever method you choose, you are marking the behavior you want. Every single time the dog does something right, you say "yes" and give the dog a treat. It is vitally important that the word "YES" is ALWAYS followed with a treat when teaching a new behavior. This is called bridging. You are bridging the wanted behavior with a reward. "Yes" is your bridge word.  After your "first contact", and lots of praise, ignore your dog. If he continues to look at you, say " yes" and give a treat. After about 20 trial, if your dog continues to watch you, go on to the "Watch" exercise. If you, the new treat machine, keep paying out, your dog will continue to come back to you for more. Don't be stingy with your treats, you're not going to eat them, so give them to your dog.

        If after you said "yes" and gave your dog a treat he turned away again, wait, and watch your dog. When he turns his head and looks at you again, say the word "yes" and treat.  Your dog still doesn't understand what "yes" means.  Continue to say "yes" and treat whenever your dog looks in your direction. Do this until your dog is watching you. If you are working on a puppy under 6 months of age, only work in short sessions, about 5 minutes total, several times a day. This also works very well on adult dogs, but you can only ask a little of puppies.