Dealing with Distractions

We see it all the time. A dog enrolls in a group class or private lesson at It’s a Dog’s World and does very well. However, as soon as their owner continues the training commands and routine at home, they have a different dog on their hands. Distractions become an issue for some owners who don’t know how to keep their dogs focused. Some distraction is good, and it’s important to work on distractions in increments. Training your dog, even with distractions can be done. Here are a few helpful tips:

• Getting started. When you begin your training routine at home start by clapping hands as a way of distraction. Once your dog is not breaking command for that move, up to something a bit more difficult like tapping the ground. Never move to a harder distraction if the dog is breaking command for the easier ones. Set your dog up to succeed. If your dog is constantly failing, you have pushed your dog too far and he or she is not ready for that level. Being more interesting than the distraction and making it fun and rewarding for your dog is key.
• Be consistent. The more you work on commands and routine the better your dog will do. Make sure and give your dog consistent commands each time, so he or she will always know what you’re asking, and will continue to recognize your corrective commands, such as “no,” or your praises such as “good dog.”
• Some distraction is good. When training your dog or pup at home, ask a friend or family member to help provide some distraction so you can test your dog’s attention to you and the command only. Ask someone to walk another dog, jump up and down in the background or make a noise while you’re working on training commands. This will help you determine how focused your dog is on you, and if you need to use treats, praise or more corrections to keep their focus.
• Reward. Dogs don’t have to literally keep both eyes on you to get rewarded.  It’s more important to look for relaxed behavior and reward for that with a dog treat and a “good.” For example, if the dog is in a down stay and you know a dog is walking by behind you, look to see if your dog is relaxed, lying on its hip, eyes are relaxed, etc. and reward for that.  But, if your dog stiffens up, becomes alert, ears up, staring at the other dog, looks like he’s about ready to jump up yet hasn’t actually broken command, it is imperative to step up what you are doing. If the dog actually gets up, don’t give a treat at that point. Simply put the dog back into the position and start over. Your dog doesn’t have to ignore the distraction entirely. That is setting up the dog to fail because no dog starting out training is going to be able to do that. Again, if the dog keeps breaking, then it is a signal to the owner that they need to move back a step and start from there.
• Practice. The most important commands your dog must obey in any distracting environment are “come” and “stay.” You can’t expect your dog to know them overnight. It’s something you must introduce to them with your trainer or in your group class, and continue to practice at home. Let your dog loose in a gated environment and give him or her praise for playing safely without being destructive or jumping on people if present or objects. Then give your dog the signal and “come” command. Always keep your dog on a leash or long line so you can grab your dog to correct and always keep it safe. Praise him or her if they obey, even with a treat, and then let dog continue to play safely. Practice this over and over so your dog becomes used to coming and checking in and then being released to continue to play. This will also help your dog associate the “come” command with checking in rather than playtime ending.

It’s a good idea to take what you and your dog have learned in a controlled environment, such as their obedience training class and apply it to a more distracting environment such as a public park. Always keep your dog on a leash, bring treats in a treat pouch, and be consistent asking him or her to do the same commands and signals you ask for in obedience training.