An introduction to engagement

How often does your dog focus on you and hold eye contact? Does your dog frequently look to you for guidance?

One of the most valuable tools for enhancing your relationship with your dog, and for setting it up for success with future training, is engagement.

A dog with good engagement sees its owner as a valuable resource who it can look to for leadership and direction. The importance of this when your dog is presented with opportunities to make bad decisions cannot be stressed enough.

We build engagement through teaching your dog that all the things it loves in life (food, play, affection, etc.) come from you, and that it has to work for them. This involves you waiting for a chosen behaviour – at the very least, the dog displaying a calm manner and making eye contact – before granting access to every treat, toy and stroke. Varying the duration of time before the reward is given stimulates and challenges the dog mentally, and it will soon gain a firm understanding of what ‘pays’ and what doesn’t.

I can show you simple and effective methods of conducting this training that are easy to replicate and fit into your daily life. Working this into your dog’s routine will help to build respect and strengthen your relationship, and will ultimately result in you having a calmer and more attentive companion.

Basic obedience and engagement should be the first steps in your dog or puppy’s training journey. Prioritising these essentials will ensure it has the tools it needs to be successful as more complex behaviours are introduced.

To learn more about how I can help with this process, get in touch with me here.