Teaching Your Dog to Focus Around Distractions
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”
