Dog Training Exercises for a Reactive or Anxious Dog

This post is all about one of your dog's new favorite dog training exercises, The Focus Game.

It's easy to become frustrated when your anxious or reactive dog isn't paying attention to you, especially if you regularly need to interact with another dog, person, or trigger that your dog becomes overwhelmed by.

If you have a reactive or anxious dog, one of the most valuable dog training exercises you can do with them to teach them what to do when they feel like they need to react or when they are feeling anxious. 

Dog Training Exercises

When dogs do behaviors we don't want them to do, we often tell them what not to do. "Don't pull. Don't jump. Fido, no!" Rather than teaching them what they should do or giving them an active, alternative task, "Fido, sit. Fido, Down". 

The Focus Game is a game that any treat motivated dog can play. Using this dog training exercise will give your dog something they like to do and teach them what TO do and what is expected of them when they are confronted with their triggers.

Playing this game will help bring a positive association to things they are fearful of, aggressive towards or nervous about. 

If your dog is not treat motivated, they have learned not to be or are too close to a distraction. Similarly, a dog who is free fed, overweight or is given treats without expectation will be less likely to be food motivated since they don't have a need to work for their food.

Dog Training Games for Recall

The Focus Game teaches your dog two things:

Dogs who are easily distracted by something probably don't understand the value that comes from interacting with you. So, you'll learn to teach your dog to value the interaction with you in the first step. Dogs learn quickly during Level 1 of the Focus Game what earns a treat and what doesn't. 

They learn that jumping up isn't the answer, barking doesn't work, but quiet, calm eye contact in a standing or sitting position does earn a treat! 

The Focus Game also teaches: 

2. A marker word

A marker is like the Hot and Cold Game that kids play when their parents hide something. As the kid is getting closer to the hidden object parent will tell the child that they are getting warmer. As the child moves further away the parent will tell them they are getting colder. 

In order for your dog to understand when they're on the right track, you need to set up a communication system with them that includes a "hotter" and "colder" term, or "yes" and "no".

This communication system that the Focus Game teaches is extremely important for commands, like "come". When you say. "come" the dog will look at you, at that point, you will mark "yes". If the dog has played the Focus Game, then they will know that a fun game and treat is coming, as long as they close the gap between themselves and the handler. 

Advanced Dog Training Exercises

The Focus Game has two levels. Here's how to play the first level: 

During the first level of the Focus Game you will wait until your dog looks at you quietly, with all four paws on the floor. The second the dog makes eye contact, you will mark "yes" and then toss a treat on the floor. 

In level two, detailed in the Focus Game ebook, you will add a distraction and change the way that your dog earns the reward, still using the "yes" marker. Once your dog understands both levels, you can swap back and forth between the two as best suites your dog's attention and goals.

You can use each level to build your dog's acceptance of the trigger and to hold their focus in more and more distracting environments. 

No dog ever masters the game because we can always add in more distraction and a longer duration of holding their attention.

10 Minute Dog Training Games

While every treat motivated dog can play this game, The Focus Game is perfect for reactive and anxious dogs. While it can be fun and exciting for dogs, the ultimate goal is to teach your dog to neutralize their feelings about triggers and pay attention to you.

Playing the Focus Game can also help a dog start to associate their triggers with positive things, and therefore neutralize bad behaviors like pulling, lunging, fixating and vocalizations.

Dog Training Games Online

Another game you can play with your dog is similar to Simon Says. For this game, you'll need a collar, long line, and a motivation, like a tug toy, ball, treat or praise.

Take your dog to an environment with an appropriate level of distraction where they are only moving their head towards the distraction and not their body. Ask your dog to do commands they know, like sit, lay down, come and heel, but throw in fake commands like, "run" "tomato", "chair" and "bottle" to teach the dog to listen to the command. 

This process of teaching the dog to listen to the verbal word is called "proofing" your dog's commands. 

Dog Training Games at Home

This drilling and proofing game works well for a dog who is highly driven. If you're noticing the dog is not being successful, try decreasing the space between you and your dog, moving to a quieter environment, or not asking the dog to hold a command for too long.