The world is full of distractions for your dog. Whether it’s other dogs, smells, or tasty dog food and treats, there’s a lot to occupy their attention.

Sometimes, though, you want to capture their focus entirely, be it for training, grooming, or travelling. For dogs that are more easily distracted than others, gathering their attention (and keeping it) can be a major challenge. If your dog has a wandering gaze (that rarely settles on you), we’ll help reclaim their focus so that you can connect with them on a closer level and teach them some useful skills and tricks.

Common Dog Distractions

Some dog distractions are more common than others and can influence varying breeds and temperaments. These include but aren’t limited to: other animals, objects on the floor, people, random smells, vehicles, large open spaces, toys, loud or high pitch noises.

 

Dealing With Dog Distractions

Start Young

Distractions develop from a young age, so it’s best to start your distraction training as early as possible. If possible, training should begin from the very first day you bring home your new best friend.

Recognise Your Dog’s Biggest Distractions

Whether using the list above or keeping a running tally of your dog’s triggers, we recommend starting by knowing exactly what distracts your dog the most. Some dogs, for example, can be incredibly food-driven, which may cause them to hunt out and be drawn towards anything they deem edible.

Isolate the Distraction(s)

With your list of common distractions made, try to minimise their presence while you train. The goal is to give you and your dog a level playing field so you can train desirable behaviour to replace their distractive tendencies.

Run Through Basic Training Skills

With your distractions out of the room, you have a good chance to re-establish your training routine. Ask your dog to perform some basic skills like sitting, staying, lying down, and potentially rolling over. Repeat these instructions several times to ensure your dog gets it and has their attention squarely focused on you.

Black and white border collie chasing a tennis ball outdoors

The “Look at Me” Command

Certain commands can be like cheat codes while training a dog. One of those cheat codes is the “look at me” command. Eye contact is highly important for dogs, and this trick can help your dog’s gaze make its way back to you when they’re distracted. It’s best to teach this trick with some high value dog treats, as this is a very important behaviour. If you feel your dog’s attention is starting to slip, a quick “look at me” can get them focused back on you.  

Gradually Reintroduce Distractions

Once you’re able to reliably get your dog to perform its tricks and show off its skills, it’s time to add your distractions back to their environment. We recommend doing this one by one to prevent your dog from becoming overwhelmed – doing too many at once may risk losing their attention. Try and start with smaller distractions, if possible, such as toys or another person’s sudden movements, before building your way up to more invasive distractions. Sometimes, the smaller distractions may become more attractive while the others aren’t visible. If this is the case and your dog is getting stuck, keep at it. You will make progress, we’re sure of it.

Treat Diligently

If your dog is food-driven, dog treats are a highly beneficial tool for dealing with distractions. The higher the value of the treat, the better. You can use the tasty aroma of a high-value treat to snap their focus back to you, without even feeding it to them. If you do give them treats, just be sure to stick to the daily portion sizes as indicated on the packaging.

 

How to Stop a Dog From Getting Distracted on Walks

It’s easier to deal with distractions in closed-off rooms and environments, but if your dog is distracted while out in the open, things become a bit more challenging. Fortunately, a lot of the tips in the previous section can apply, especially the “look at me” command. This is especially useful when you feel a distraction is coming closer toward you and can be used to quickly re-establish a connection with your dog while walking. You can also break up the walk occasionally by asking your dog to perform tricks out in the wild in exchange for a treat. Make sure you carry treats with you, as these can be very helpful in restoring your dog’s focus and keeping it that way.

 

Training Guidance and Tips

Dog owners, we’re here to help. We know how difficult it can be to keep your dog’s attention, which is why we’ve developed a range of training treats to put some tools in your training arsenal. For more guidance on training your dog and nourishing them with high-quality dog food, stick to our blog.