Not eager to please...

[Kaiser2016]

How do you get them to give you eye contact? I have tried with Bruno and sometimes he will look at me but usually he looks to the side, over my head etc.! My GSD would look at me nearly all the time, looking for words but Bruno seems detached. We are together all day (apart from siesta time and night time)

Kaiser was like that too. I think it's a dog communication thing - eye contact is seen as a challenge so they tend not to look you right in the eyes unless you train them too. I do the same as @Tropicalbri's suggested. Only my word is focus.

 

[Rits]

I wait for eye contact after sits and downs before I give a treat. If you notice, they often stare at your treat hand after performing these.

Puppies I teach them their name = eye contact. So anytime you say their name they look for your face! Works great for teaching them their name. Anytime you say "Java...come" the word Java gets her to look to me and come is the action I want her to do. Name + command now I have a dog that looks at me waiting for the command!

Heeling say their name (which you taught earlier) and treat for looking up. You can phase out the name and only treat for good eye contact and good heeling.

 

[Kaiser2016]

I wait for eye contact after sits and downs before I give a treat. If you notice, they often stare at your treat hand after performing these.

Kaiser is a great hand-watcher. I will try the heeling and saying his name. Have not tried that combo before.

 

[GOD'S GRACE]

I wait for eye contact after sits and downs before I give a treat. If you notice, they often stare at your treat hand after performing these.

Puppies I teach them their name = eye contact. So anytime you say their name they look for your face! Works great for teaching them their name. Anytime you say "Java...come" the word Java gets her to look to me and come is the action I want her to do. Name + command now I have a dog that looks at me waiting for the command!

Heeling say their name (which you taught earlier) and treat for looking up. You can phase out the name and only treat for good eye contact and good heeling.

NO EYE CONTACT - NO TREAT..... 101 - DOG TRAINING...with out the eye contact they won't associate you with the exercise...
Good advise Rits