What is it?

What do we mean when we talk about “Engagement” in dog training? In its simplest form, it’s having your dog look at you, interested in what activity you are doing. It is the beginning ingredient to teaching them any task. The challenge comes when you add in the competition of things more interesting than you, such as squirrels, smells in the grass, other dogs, new people, and the list goes on! 

Strong engagement is a very important element of training. You can tell a lot about the relationship between a dog and their trainer through the level of engagement you can see when a team is interacting. You may see one dog, where when asked to sit, they immediately do so and are ready and waiting for the next command, while another might consider its 15 other options before finally deciding to sit. 

How do I build Engagement with my dog? 

Perhaps you read that last sentence and laughed as you realized that your dog might be that second one…. If you have goals of building a stronger relationship with your dog, start by building YOUR value to them. You will have a lot of competition if you’re outside, with lots of other smells/animals/people around. 

Start by building value where there isn’t a lot of competition – like your living room, with a leash on the dog. Get yourself something the dog finds super valuable, such as a super smelly treat, or their favorite tug toy. Start by having them follow you – you want your dog to be interested in what you’re doing before you even ask for any specific commands or behaviors. Once they get rewarded a few times for following you, mix it up and incorporate play into the mix. Many dogs that lack engagement with their owners are used to getting enjoyment by playing by themselves, with other dogs, or their environment. Learning to play with your dog one on one will go a long way. 

How do I test it?

The next step is to start moving on to new environments, proofing the level of attention you can get from your dog at parks, pet-friendly stores, and even downtown areas. If you or your dog get overwhelmed, and you find that they are overly distracted, take a step back to a less challenging environment and work up to it. One of the most important aspects of training is to have a dog that actively WANTS to learn. Building a strong relationship with solid engagement is the first step.