Foundations • 10–15 minutes
Disengagement
Help your dog switch off from triggers safely.
At a glance
Time
10–15 minutes
Focus
Foundations
Coach
Included
Keep sessions short and progress one variable at a time.
Accountability
No active week
On track
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Submission
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Requirement
Not due
Scroll for outcome → practice → mistakes → coach.
Target outcome
What you’re aiming for
Your dog can notice a distraction and then choose to re-orient to you at a workable distance.
Practice
You need
- High-value treats (small and soft)
- Lead/harness (or long line for space, if safe)
- A calm marker word (e.g., Nice) and a reward marker (Yes)
- Space to increase distance from triggers
Steps
- 1. Rule 0 — Start under threshold: Begin far enough away that your dog can take treats calmly and look around without locking on.
- 2. Phase 1 — Pattern build (no real trigger): Let your dog look away. The moment they turn back toward you: mark (Yes) and feed 2–3 treats. Repeat until the turn-back is quick.
- 3. Phase 2 — Add a mild point of interest: Use something low intensity (a person at distance, a stationary object, a quiet area). Allow a look, then mark and pay the turn-back.
- 4. Phase 3 — Use distance as the main dial: If your dog struggles, increase distance immediately. If they succeed easily for 5–10 reps, reduce distance slightly next session.
- 5. Phase 4 — Calm pairing (optional): When your dog notices the trigger calmly, use a calm marker (Nice) and feed slowly. If calm disappears, stop pairing and increase distance.
- 6. Phase 5 — Real-world reps: Short, clean reps in the environment. End early on a good rep rather than pushing until the dog fails.
Common mistakes
Avoid these
- Working too close to the trigger and hoping the dog will ‘get used to it’.
- Waiting too long to reward the turn-back (late reinforcement).
- Trying to reduce distance and add movement/distraction at the same time.
- Repeating reps when the dog has stopped taking food or is locked on.
- Using tight lead pressure that increases frustration rather than creating space.
Coach
Ask about your setup and what to do next
Keep it specific: where you’re practising, what the distraction is, and what your dog does.
Lesson Coach
Lesson-scoped guidance only. Short, practical steps.