Look At That or Engage/Disengage
“Engage/Disengage” and “Look at That” are similar games that we use to help dogs who get overexcited, reactive, or anxious. These skills are a fantastic way to help your dog build an alternate response to distractions and triggers.
Why Use Engage/Disengage or Look at That?
Confidence Building: Helps your dog feel less anxious around triggers.
Focus Shift: Encourages your dog to look to you for guidance after noticing something interesting or concerning.
Calm Responses: Replaces reactivity with calm observation.
When to Use These Games
Walks: For calmly acknowledging other dogs, people, or passing vehicles.
New Environments: To help your dog feel more comfortable and focused.
Training Classes: To reduce distractions and maintain engagement.
Before Starting Either of These Training Games
Minimize Exposure: Reduce the number of times your dog experiences triggers as much as possible given your home environment. Block views, hide, turn and walk the other direction, whatever is needed to prevent a response.
Find a High Value Reward: You’ll want to use your highest value reward for these exercises, something your dog may not get in other situations. Think freeze dried liver, hot dogs, string cheese, etc!
Set Up Your Training Environment: The more control you have over the environment and the trigger, the more likely you can have an effective training session.
Look At That
Look at That is a pattern game from the Control Unleashed system created by Leslie McDevitt. The goal is to have your dog report new things in the environment and let you know they are there!
The main difference from Engage/Disengage is that you work using a neutral item to learn the cue before generalizing to more distracting triggers. With Look At That, you also ask your dog to look, rather than waiting for them to notice on their own.
Level 1: Neutral Target
Hold an uninteresting item behind your back.
Present the item to your dog at a distance of 4-5 feet.
Mark using a “yes!” or click as soon as the dog looks at the item. Timing is key, try to mark within 2-5 seconds of your dog looking at the item. Give your dog a treat!
Repeat by pulling the item behind your back and then presenting it again in different locations in front of your dog. Your dog should start looking at the item and then looking back at you in anticipation of the marker/treat. You can also hold the item out for a longer time, or place the item on a surface.
Level 2: Add the Cue
Once your dog is easily looking at and away from the trigger, you can add your cue. Use anything that feels good: “Look at That,” “What’s That?”, “Who’s That?” are some common suggestions.
Present the neutral item as before. Say your cue and wait for your dog to look at the object and then back at you.
Mark with “yes!” or a click as soon as your dog looks at you. Give your dog a treat.
Repeat 10-20 times.
Level 3: Generalize
As your dog starts to respond to the cue by immediately looking at you, you can start generalizing to different triggers. Start with other neutral objects and work towards slightly more distracting triggers.
Work in different environments, increasingly more stimulating.
When your dog is consistent you can get closer to triggers (1-2 steps).
Engage/Disengage
Engage/Disengage is a game by Alice Tong- you can see her handout here or on the next page! It works well when you can’t control your environment or see unavoidable triggers. It doesn’t involve a lot of pre-work so you can start using this tactic almost immediately.
Tips for Success
Distance Matters: Start at a distance where your dog can notice the trigger without becoming excited or stressed. The calmer your dog remains, the better this exercise will work.
Keep Sessions Short: Limit initial sessions to 5-10 minutes to avoid overstimulation.
Watch Body Language: If your dog seems tense, increase the distance from the trigger and give them a break.
Be Consistent: This pattern should be repeated every time your dog sees a trigger. If you are not prepared to train in certain situations, make sure your dog is not exposed to their triggers.
High-Value Treats: Use special treats your dog finds irresistible to maximize their focus and enthusiasm.
Resources
Leslie McDevitt - Look at That Deep Dive
Charleston Animal Society - Engage/Disengage
Bravo Dog - Engage/Disengage Primer