Focus & Engagement Exercise: “With Me” Turn & Sit

This is a great exercise to build your dog’s focus, teach calm engagement, and redirect attention when needed—especially on walks or during greetings.

✅ Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Start in a low-distraction environment.
Use a leash and begin with a pretend walk around your space.

2. Begin walking forward at a relaxed pace.
Let your dog move naturally alongside you.
Say “With Me” in a clear, upbeat voice.
This is your cue to engage.
Step backward while luring your dog to turn and face you.
Use a toy or treat to guide them toward you.

3. Lure them into a sit.
Once they’re facing you, encourage them to sit before giving the reward.

4. Reward generously.
In the beginning, reward every time they complete the sequence.

Continued Work:

7. Practice and fade rewards.
As your dog becomes more reliable, begin rewarding every 2–3 successful repetitions.

8. Increase difficulty over time.
Practice in more distracting environments as your dog builds confidence.

💡 Why It’s Helpful:

• Redirects your dog’s focus back to you

• Teaches calm, polite behavior during greetings

• Builds impulse control and confidence around distractions

Keep sessions short, fun, and full of encouragement—your dog is learning to choose you over everything else going on around them. 🎉

Think. Play. Wag. 🐶💛

Teach your dog problem-solving and focus by encouraging them to think instead of reacting impulsively.

Why It’s Enriching:
This game uses shaping and choice-based learning. It taps into your dog’s natural curiosity and rewards thoughtful interaction. Great for impulse control, especially for excitable or food-driven dogs.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prep your hands.
   Hide a small treat in one hand and make a fist. Keep your other hand open and flat.
2. Start with your hands behind your back.
   This sets up anticipation and prevents your dog from seeing which hand holds the treat.
3. Present both hands to your dog.
   Bring your closed fist and flat palm out at the same time, holding them on either side of your dog’s head, a few inches from their face.
4. Let your dog investigate.
   Most dogs will go straight to sniffing or pawing at the closed fist. Don’t react — keep that fist closed.
5. Wait for your dog to touch the flat palm.
   This might be a sniff, nudge, or gentle lick. The moment they interact with the open palm…
6. Reward instantly!
   Open the closed fist and give them the treat. Praise warmly.
7. Repeat!

Play a few rounds and pause while your dog is still engaged. Next time, see how quickly they go to the flat palm first.

Bonus Tip:

If your dog keeps going back to the fist, try briefly hiding your hands again and resetting. Be patient — they’ll figure it out!

Teaching an Automatic Sit

There are two simple ways to practice this skill with your dog. Working on making the predictable is key to success.

Method 1: Practice Walks

• On a walk, pause and turn to face your dog.

• Say “Sit!” in an upbeat, excited voice.

• When they do, mark (“Yes!” or click) and reward.

• Repeat throughout the walk, making a stop a predictor of a sit

Method 2: Repetition at Home

1. Ask your dog to sit in front of you.

2. Reward each successful sit.

3. Repeat this four times so it feels predictable.

4. On the 5th try, say nothing—just wait.

• When they sit on their own, mark and reward.

• This begins to build the automatic sit.

Bonus Game: Add “Find It”

• After each sit, roll a treat away and say “Find it!”.

• Let your dog chase the treat, then wait for them to return.

• Watch as they begin to offer a sit automatically when they come back.

✨ Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes), and you’ll see the skill grow quickly.

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