Distraction Defeaters are techniques that regain your dog’s focus FAST and build massive engagement. Until you can gain and keep their attention, you’re unlikely to make progress around triggers. There are lots of Distraction Defeaters in the Stress Free Dog Walks Toolkit, and the one you’re learning today is hugely popular with Club Dogwood members!

To get things started in The Loose Lead Walking Challenge, we’re showing you a simple technique for when you need your dog to stop pulling on the lead and focus on your – or ignore a distraction. The distraction could be a person, another dog, traffic, abandoned chip wrappers or just general excitement or anxiety making them pull.

It's just what every pulling dog needs! 

Start stationary:

1. Count ‘one, two, three’ out loud and give a treat on ‘three’.
2. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
3. Once your dog starts looking at you on ‘one’, you’re ready to start walking. 

Now add steps:

1. Take 3 steps, counting out loud as you go. On the third step, give your dog a treat. 
2. Repeat, repeat, repeat. 

What’s great is that ‘one’ becomes a predictor of ‘two’ becomes a predictor of ‘three’. Your dog will start anticipating the third step (and the treat) and focus on you from the moment you start counting.

Deb's adaptation for deaf dogs: Use your hand to count via signals.  Hold the treat in your fist. One – index finger held up and slight bounce to hand. Two – first two fingers held up and slight bounce to hand. Three – first two fingers and thumb held out and slight bounce of hand. Open hand and present treat. Done with the hand closest to the dog (doing it across the body will encourage your dog to come in front and will block the ability to continue moving forward.