This means the dog takes its eyes off of whatever else it is looking at and looks into your eyes. Take a couple of treats in your hand, let the dog smell them and then raise the treat up to your eyes, say the dog's name and then the word "Watch" or "Watch me." As soon as the dog makes eye contact, say "yes" and give it the treat. Repeat until your dog is following your hand up to your eyes. Next, let the dog smell the treat, raise your treat to your eyes, and this time pull your hand straight over the top of your head so the treat is now at the back of your head. If the dog looks in your eyes, say "yes" and give it the treat.
When your dog is looking at you more than it is looking at its surroundings, put the treats in different places. Start with your dog in front of you, say your "watch word" and move your treats behind your back. If your dog looks into your eyes, say your bridge word "yes" give treat and praise. If your dog goes behind you searching for the treat, move your hands in front of you quietly. As soon as your dog comes back in front of you, say your "watch word" and move treats behind you again. Do this until the dog stays in front and looks into your eyes. Praise big when it does. This exercise takes some patience: wait out your dog, and wait for it to look into your eyes. This look at first will only be for an instant, reward that until your dog is looking longer into your eyes. Dog training can be a lot of waiting. Enjoy it, and relax.
When your dog is looking into your eyes for an extended period of time, put the treats on a table or on the floor (make sure your dog DOESN'T get them) and ask your dog to watch you. You can also make your dog watch you longer, reminding him what he is doing and praising when it holds position. Example, if your dog is in front of you doing a watch, your treats are on the table, tell your dog something like this "Fido watch! Good watch, that's watch, excellent watch, what beautiful behavior, watch, you're a clever dog, watch, good watch" and end with "yes", give the dog a treat.
From this point forward, if you are in a safe enclosed area, work with your dog off leash, otherwise a very loose leash or a long line that can be drag on the ground. Wait for your dog to pay attention to you. Do not call your dog...no begging for attention. You can make little bird noises but do not call your dog by name or the word come. Wait for first contact again. The second your dog looks at you make a huge fuss over him.
