To train a dog to focus, teaching your dog a ‘watch me’ cue, as well as practicing their reflex to their name being called, will be helpful when getting your dog’s focus around distractions. While training your dog to respond to you, remember not to throw them in the deep end and expect them to respond in a park full of distractions. Instead, try to increase the level of distraction slowly during training sessions. For example, you could practice 'watch me’ in the garden before trying this out in a public area. To get your dog to focus on you after seeing a distraction, begin by marking with a ‘yes’ (or click if you use a clicker) and reward whenever they notice a distraction - for example, as soon as they see a stranger. Once your dog reliably looks at you when they notice a distraction, you can start to wait for them to look at you before marking and rewarding them. Gradually get closer to the distraction and repeat, ensuring that whenever they check in with you, you mark and reward. If your dog begins to stare at the distraction, you can use another cue, like ‘watch me’ or their name, to prompt them to look back at you.