You might not think that simply trying to get a dog’s attention wouldn’t be too difficult, but when your dog’s hyper-fixating on something, getting their attention can be pretty tricky.
Sometimes, however, you might need to get their attention sooner rather than later. If you’re out and about with your dog, there might be a safety risk – and keeping your dog safe around roads is incredibly important. Alternatively, you might simply need them to pay attention to you so that you can both continue your walk peacefully.
Whatever your reason for wanting your dog to pay attention when they’re hyper-fixating, you might find the advice in a recent Instagram post from Juliana DeWillems, the owner and head trainer at JW Dog Training & Behavior, useful.
Getting a dog’s attention when they are hyper-fixated on something can be really challenging!” begins DeWillems in her caption. “I use a mix of visual cues (me approaching), food, movement, my voice to redirect their attention away from something! This combo usually works, especially if I practice it a bunch without the distraction or trigger around.”
DeWillems will walk up the leash to her dog, rather than trying to pull them to her. She’ll then put a tasty treat right to their nose – don’t forget to ensure you’ve got some pretty high-value treats – before shuffling backward and using her voice to encourage them to move with her. Here, she’s able to use her full mix of visual cue, food, movement, and voice. Remember, positive reinforcement is always best!
“I use this if I’m worried my dog is going to bark or lunge at something, or if we are stuck in a dangerous place like a narrow trail with people approaching,” DeWillems adds. “I don’t mind if they are just watching and I don’t always intervene if there isn’t a safety risk.”
After all, if something’s grabbed your dog’s attention, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog is going to react. If your pup is intently staring at a squirrel, for example, it’s a different scenario from them being ready to react to another dog.
If you’d like more advice, why not take a look at these common dog behavior problems and solutions? And, while hyper-fixation may not always be rooted in aggression or a sign of reactivity in dogs, you may want to know how to handle dog aggression, too.
