Tuesday Training Byte: Mastering the distractions

Many people tell me that their dog is stubborn, or will not listen, or just plain loses focus. By changing owner behavior we can see a very different response from the dog. If my dog is chasing a squirrel towards the street, in order to get my dog to recall, I need to be more exciting than the squirrel.

I am not saying that I will wave and squeak his favorite toy around while shouting to come. I start with training in as a distraction free space as I can and use excited praise when my dog responds properly. I turn it into a fun and rewarding game for my dog. I avoid drilling or boring my dog and if I call and he doesn't run my direction, I do not yell or punish. I find that my dog usually is catching on by the third time I try something new. So I do four of that new command, the recall for example, and then end our session with play and treats. A five minute training session that ends on a great note should get your dog excited for more of it. If you can squeeze in 2 short five minute sessions in one day, your dog will be ready the next time to move up to a more distracting training area. Remember that learning takes place incrementally. You can set your dog up for success by leaving a leash on him in the house or a long line while working in the yard. If he doesn't respond right away when you go outside, get up close and ask for a couple of things he knows well- like a rapid sit, down, and sit. Then end your session with praise. The next day, start again inside with less distractions for a couple of minutes, then go into the garage, yard or driveway and try again for the recall while on the leash. You may find that you make a few steps of forward progress and then a step backwards. Try sitting in a lawn chair outside with your dog sitting in front of you while you practice the "watch me" eye contact game with lots of treats. (Eye contact = focus!)

Then get up and do a recall again. Mixing it up, brief sessions, and gradually increasing the distractions will help your dog pay close attention, even with distractions all around. Happy training!