Does your dog lock onto another dog across the street and act like the treat in your hand doesn't exist? Or freeze on a squirrel while you say their name 5 times?
What you'll learn in this edition: how to catch the moment before your dog locks in, and what to do when you've missed it.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.
The hot dog that didn't matter
Every walk where your dog gets to stare a trigger down is a walk where your dog practices getting more worked up, and you go back to bracing at every corner.
Kirby, my Jindo mix, used to spot a dog a block away and go stiff. Ears forward. Weight leaning into the leash. Eyes glued.
I'd shove the best thing I had right under his nose. Hot dog. He wouldn't even sniff it.
Kirby was over-threshold, and an over-threshold dog is not relaxed enough to eat (fight or flight kicks in).
Nothing matters when a dog is locked on
When nothing in your hand works
Your dog spots the trigger and goes still. You offer the treat, the toy, their name... and nothing lands.
From your dog's point of view, the trigger is the only thing in the world right now. Every second of staring winds them up a little tighter. And a stressed dog stops eating (same as you skipping lunch before a big presentation).
Why waving the treat harder backfires
Pushing the food closer. In this state, the treat is just scenery.
Calling their name over and over. Each unanswered call teaches your dog the name is optional out here.
Both ask a dog to think when the thinking part has gone offline. And standing still while your dog stares gives them more time to wind up.
Catch the glance, or break the stare
The glance. Your dog notices the trigger and looks a beat too long, not quite locked in yet. This is the sweet spot. Say "come," turn, and run the other way, the same run-backwards game from the recall issue.
The stare. You missed the glance (it happens to everyone, me included). Your dog is past taking food, so break the stare first. 2 ways:
A quick poke on your dog's side or the back of their leg, then run.
A quick pop on the leash, then run. A pop is a fast tug and release, and you keep a firm hold of the leash the whole time. Do NOT drop it.
Then go straight into the recall and keep running until your dog stops looking back at the trigger and will take something. Food, a toy, a release to go sniff, praise. Whatever your dog will take at that distance counts.
The running matters. Moving snaps your dog out of the stare and gives the stress somewhere to go. And every step away from the trigger brings your dog down a notch.
I know it's not realistic to run every time your dog sees a trigger. But these first steps build the habit: when your dog sees something uncomfortable, they turn back and look at you to let the stress go. As your dog gets better at it, you won't have to break into a run backwards every time.
(If your dog has ever spun around and nipped when touched while worked up, skip the poke and use the leash.)
One thing to try this week 👇🏻
On your next walk, watch your dog's ears and eyes, not the trigger. Look for the glance that lasts a beat too long.
The moment you see it, say "come" and run the other way. Pay when your dog catches up to you.
No response? Break the stare with a poke or a pop, then run. Keep going until your dog stops swinging their head back to look.
After the walk, count: how many glances did you catch, and how many stares did you have to break?
Catch the glance and you'll rarely have to break the stare.
Good dog of the week 🐶
Gene Parmesan with the biggest stank eye.
Want your dog here? Reply with a photo, their name, and one line about what makes them a good dog.
Some ways I can help
Send me a video, I'll give you feedback for free.
Reply to any newsletter with a 30 to 60 second clip or a description of what's going on: a bad walk, a behavior you can't figure out, a sport skill you're stuck on. I pick 2 readers a week and answer them properly.
Reply to this email. Ask a question, share your wins, tell me your struggles. I answer every question that lands in my inbox!
Work with me one on one.
If you're new to working with me, start with my questionnaire. It's free and takes 5 minutes. I read every one, and if I can help, I'll send you the link to book a 30 minute virtual consult, $60, credited toward whatever comes next. If I can't, I'll let you know.
👉🏻 If we've worked together before, just email me at [email protected] and we'll get something in the books.
Suggestion box 📬
What'd you think of this email?
Enjoyed this newsletter? Forward it to a friend and have them sign up here.
That's all for today folks! 🫶🏻
Let's go train some Good Dogs 🐶
P.S. Hit reply and tell me your dog's trigger. Dogs, bikes, squirrels, the neighbor's cat, a plastic bag that looked at them funny... I read every single email!