How to train a dog to focus?

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.

Teaching your dog to focus on you builds trust and aids communication, and better communication leads to positive behaviors and benefits for you and your dog. One of the first things dog guardians should teach their dog is the dog’s name, and it’s usually so they can get their dog's attention. If your dog is consistently rewarded for giving you attention, she learns that giving you her focus for a moment leads to fun and positive things. Rewarding and training focus is foundational for almost everything else you want to do with your dog. To teach your dog to give eye contact on cue, you’ll need to have small food treats on hand that appeal to your dog. Begin by noticing when your dog naturally makes eye contact with you. Reward that behavior with a treat and the word “yes!” As your dog becomes more proficient, you can practice the attention cue when there is a distraction in the environment. Train quick eye contact at first, and when your dog is offering that behavior, wait just a moment or two before giving her the reward. You can build on that duration with repeated training sessions.