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How to Teach Your Dog to Focus

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Teaching Your Dog to Focus Around Distractions

How to Teach Your Dog to Focus
You’ll need lots of yummy treats to get started.

Once your dog reliably looks at you when she hears her name, it’s time to add distractions. This is the hard part because teaching a behavior is not easy. Now, it’s time to take it to the real world!

Introduce Distractions

You’ll need a clicker and lots of super yummy treats.

  • Practice indoors. Say your dog’s name when she’s looking at something random, such as a toy or the window. Click when she looks at you and toss the treat by your feet so she comes over to get it.
  • Outside, while on leash, practice for a few days.
  • After one to two weeks, bring yummy treats and your clicker in the backyard and practice. Squirrels and other dogs romping around are hard to resist so use yummy treats and attach her to a leash, if needed.

RELATED: Dog Training Treats

Problem Solving

When adding distractions, move slowly. If you’re a singer, just starting out, it would be tough to sing in front of a stadium full of people, right? Start slowly by singing in front of family, friends, small gatherings and such. This builds confidence and ensures you have a full understanding of expectations.

  • If your dog ignores the cue, recall her to you and reward profusely! Clip a leash to her collar and try again.
  • Distance is your friend: Practice 20 feet from other dogs and playing children, and slowly move toward the distractions over time.

Focusing at Dog Parks

This is a tough one and may take months to perfect, as dog parks are the mecca of distractions! 🙂 Again, this is equivalent to singing at Madison Square Garden. You must hone your craft before practicing it in front of the world. Personally, I’m not a fan of dog parks–too many rude dogs there. Anyhow, try:

  • Practicing outside about 20 feet from dog parks for a few sessions.
  • Slowly moving closer to the park. If your dog becomes distracted, back up and try again.

VIDEO: Teaching Your Dog Focus: Introducing Distractions

You may also like: Teaching a Dog “Look at Me”

Teaching a Dog “Look at Me:” Adding a Cue

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Train Your Dog to Look at You

Teaching a Dog to Look at Me
It’s time to add a cue!

Once your dog will look at you, instead of holding treats in your left hand, it’s time to move forward by adding a cue.

How to Add a Cue

It’s best and much quicker to add a cue to behavior after your dog understands what to do. Choose a cue meaning “look at me instead of everything else.” I suggest saying your dog’s name. The cue doesn’t really matter, as long as you use the same one each time.

  • Holding a treat in your left hand while the leash and clicker are in your right hand, move both hands away from your face. Basically, you’re increasing the distraction level.
  • As you move both hands away from you, say your dog’s name once. The moment she looks at you, click and give her the treat.
  • Keep practicing. Try moving your hands above your head, waist level and so on. Say your dog’s name once and wait for her to choose looking at you instead. It’s worth the wait. 🙂

RELATED: How to Train Your Dog Around Distractions

Problem Solving

If your dog ignores her name, wait for her to look at you. If she doesn’t look at you after three seconds, then she’s probably confused or really distracted.

  • Use super yummy treats. Remember, treats are your dog’s paycheck so the higher you pay, the faster your dog will learn.
  • Take a step back from distractions. You may have moved too quickly too soon. This is normal. Think about learning how to drive. It’s not fair expecting you to merge on a 16 lane highway packed with traffic during your second week of driver’s ed. 🙂
  • At times, your dog will sit and look around instead. Remember “sit” is usually your dog’s default behavior when confused. She’s thinking, “I don’t know what she wants so I’ll sit. That usually gets me treats.” Instead, wait her out. See if she will over something else, which is usually “look at me.” If, at anytime, your dog becomes confused, take a step back to “capturing look at me.”

VIDEO: Teaching a Dog “Look at Me:” Adding a Cue

You may also like: Teaching Your Dog Focus

T Touch for Scared Dogs

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Training Scared Dogs

T Touch
The power of T Touch!

As a dog trainer, I’m still learning about T Touch and what I’ve learned so far is truly effective with amazing results! I use these secret training tips for scared dogs everyday!

What is T Touch?

Linda Tellington-Jones developed Tellington Touch Training (T Touch) many decades ago while training nervous horses. Horses are big. They average 1,000 lbs, give or take 100 lbs depending on their size, so working with scared horses can be extremely dangerous. Instead of man handling or forcing horses, which increases anxiety, Linda thought outside the box. She created a method of reducing anxiety to calm horses so they can learn. While we throw out labels such as “aggression,” it’s important to understand aggression is a symptom of anxiety. Think about it this way: stopping a high fever does not cure the flu.

With T Touch’s tremendous success within the horse world, Linda developed protocols for dogs, cats, small animals and even people! Many years ago, I skeptically attended a T Touch workshop. As dog trainers, we’re always looking for new and effective protocols, but if T Touch worked so well why were we all not doing it? I was blown away with results! And I can’t answer why this secret training tip hasn’t taken off, but hopefully, this blog will help T Touch reach the masses. 🙂

Unleash Your Dog’s Potential: Tellington Touch

How does it work?

T Touch uses slow, rhythmic touching all over a dog’s body. Light pressure with finger tips is key. It’s the same pressure used to softly move the skin over closed eyes. “The intent of the T Touch is to activate the function of the cells and awaken cellular intelligence – a little like ‘turning on the electric lights of the body,'” cites Tellington Touch Training website. Before you scoff at this statement, Linda has a ton of research proving results. This claim has been proven with multiple animals and I’ve personally witnessed positive transformation with the scariest of dogs.

T Touch is a bit different than massage. Massaging is kneading muscles to remove pain while promoting relaxation. T Touch is teaching body awareness by using balance, touching of skin and so forth.

Will this help my dog?

Yes! T Touch will build confidence, teach dogs to self calm, prevent dogs from shutting down, prevent dogs from pulling on the leash and so on!

Take a peek at Alf’s transformation. This video demos the effect of T Touch. Alf was rescued from Michael Vick’s fighting ring and was terrified of everything, and who could blame him? You may need a tissue while watching. 🙂

Alf’s T Touch Transformation

Have you tried T Touch yet?  

How to Stop a Puppy From Biting

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Puppy Biting

Puppy Biting
Learn how to manage puppy biting. Ow! lifeonwhite/Deposit Photos

Pet Parent Question:

I have a question on a new puppy. I’ve always had dogs, and currently have two Yorkies, a Rottie and a new pup. The new pup is a Beagle and Dotsy mix, extremely smart at 12 weeks, completely house and kennel trained — I’ve never had a dog that young be so quick to house train. Though she is a huge biter! By that I mean she brings blood, nothing is off limits — arms, legs, hands, face if she gets close enough. I’ve tried scolding her, stop showing attention, giving chew toys when she bites, and I’m lost. Nothing has worked. I’ve even used a fly swatter, which she will turn and attack. She is very, very active and has a doggie door she can go through and run around, which she definitely does for hours. Any advice that I haven’t tried?

Dog Trainer’s Answer:

Congrats on your new family member and huge congrats on potty/kennel training your new puppy! A high five to a fellow Rottie pet parent! Do know the secret to potty training is providing clear boundaries and rewarding good behavior often, which you did so pat yourself on the back. 🙂

Ah, puppy nipping, or as we say in the dog training world bite inhibition. It’s pretty important to teach your puppy that teeth on skin does not pay. Now, your puppy is probably beginning the teething process and it takes a few times to teach your puppy what he can chew on so hang in there. 🙂

A couple of things to try:

  • Teach boundaries. If you’re rude when playing, the game is over: The moment you feel teeth on your skin squeak loudly, freeze for a moment, then walk away from your puppy. If your puppy chases you or tries to pull on your pant leg, repeat the squeak and freeze. Then walk away.
  • Redirect to a toy. Wiggle a toy in front of your puppy and play a quick game of tug. This redirects your puppy from you and onto the toy — works like a charm.
  • Lastly, spray bitter apple on your arms. Careful though, as some dogs love the taste of bitter apple. When polling my students, over half the puppies love the stuff.

Puppy nipping will pass. This is a normal part of puppyhood. 🙂 Punishment usually makes it worse, as any fast movement is play behavior. Hence, chasing the fly swatter. Just as you did with potty training, set boundaries early and follow them. Soon your new puppy will learn to control those little shark teeth!

Check out my article on puppy nipping. There’s some really good tips on helping your puppy through the teething process to puppy biting.

Happy training!

Do you have a dog or puppy training question? Ask the dog trainer!

How to Park Your Dog

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Train Your Dog to Stay

Train Your Dog to Stay

As a professional dog trainer, if I had to narrow down the top behavior all dogs should know, I would say parking your dog would be the first one! Trust me, “Come When Called” is probably right up there with “Park Your Dog.” However, this behavior will teach your dog to stay with you.

 “Park Your Dog” is a great way to bring your dog’s arousal level down. It’s like taking a yoga breath for your dog.

Why Should I “Park My Dog”?

“Park Your Dog” is a great way to bring your dog’s arousal level down. It’s like taking a “yoga breath” for your dog. Use this dog behavior when your dog becomes overwhelmed by visitors or anything, really! When teaching hyperactive dogs to be calm, many folks ask them to sit still. This is tough, as they are learning how to manage their extra energy and excitement. So next time your dog tries to jump on guests, “park your dog.”

Just by teaching your dog this simple behavior, your dog will learn

  • Self control (teaching your hyper dog to relax)
  • Polite greetings of people (not to jump on people or you)
  • Polite leash manners (not pull on the leash)
  • Ignore other dogs
  • Stay with you
  • Prevent excessive barking

How do I teach “Park Your Dog”?

  1. Step on your leash (about half way up to your dog, your dog should have 3 feet of extra leash).
  2. Click and treat your dog the instant the leash becomes loose. Tip: instead of watching your dog, feel when the leash tightens and loosens under your feet. The moment you feel slack in the leash, Click and treat!
  3. That’s it! Bingo, you are rewarding calm and quiet behavior!

Additional Troubleshooting:

  • Dog still jumps up on you, shorten the leash.
  • Dog continues to pull on leash, your timing is probably off a bit.  Click/treat every time the leash is loose.
  • My dog is still pulling, then call their name and click/treat five times in a row.  Now you have their attention, so keep their attention by rewarding frequently.

VIDEO: How to Teach “Park Your Dog”

When can you park your dog?

  • While talking to someone at the park
  • Having guests over
  • Outdoor dining
  • Paying at the pet store or vet’s office
  • During group class lecture, we ask pet parents to “park their dog” while listening to instructions

I want to hear from you! When should you park your dog?

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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