30/04/2026
Stop Fighting Distractions (You’re Losing Anyway)
Let’s talk about distractions…
The smells. The people. The dogs. The leaf that moved slightly suspiciously three metres away.
If you’ve got a dog, you’ve got distractions. That’s just the deal.
And what do most people do? They fight them.
You’re out on a walk, your dog locks onto something, and suddenly it’s game on… “Look at me!” “Here!” waves treat like you’re trying to land a plane
You dig into your pocket and bring out the good stuff. Not just kibble… oh no. We’re talking cheese. Chicken. Possibly a three-course meal.
And sometimes? It works. You’ve successfully outbid the environment. Congratulations. You win this round.
But here’s the problem… What happens when the environment raises the stakes? Because it will.
Enter: the hormonal teenager. You know the one. Ears? Decorative. Brain? Temporarily unavailable.
And suddenly your chicken… your cheese… your entire culinary offering… means absolutely nothing. Because your dog has seen another dog. Or caught that scent. Or noticed that person.
And in that moment, you are not competing with a distraction… you are competing with biology. Good luck.
The real issue isn’t that your rewards aren’t good enough. It’s that you’re trying to beat something your dog is hardwired to care about. And when you frame it like that, it’s no wonder it feels like a constant battle. Because it is. You vs. the world. You vs. your dog’s instincts. You vs. literally everything interesting. That’s exhausting. And more importantly… it’s unnecessary.
What if, instead of trying to override the distraction… you used it? Instead of saying, “Don’t look at that, look at me,” you said, “Brilliant choice. Now that becomes your reward.”
Because here’s the shift that changes everything: distractions don’t have to be the enemy—they can be the reinforcement.
Let’s say your dog wants to go and greet another dog. Instead of dragging them away or desperately trying to bribe them into eye contact, you create a simple rule: “Engage with me first… then you get what you want.”
Suddenly, the distraction isn’t causing conflict. It’s creating clarity. Your dog learns when to focus, when they’re free, and how to access what they want. Instead of suppressing their interest in the world, you’re channeling it.
Why does this work so well? Because you’re no longer competing with the environment—you’re collaborating with it. You’re speaking your dog’s language. And most importantly, you’re removing that constant tension of “Why won’t my dog just listen?!” They will—when it makes sense to them.
A huge part of this comes down to one simple thing: does your dog actually know when they’re “on” and when they’re “off”? Or are they just guessing while you get increasingly frustrated? Because when dogs lack clarity, they default to what’s most reinforcing—and spoiler alert, it’s usually not you.
But when you clearly communicate “Now is the time to engage with me” and “Now you’re free to go and be a dog,” everything changes.
You don’t need to win against distractions. You need to use them. That’s where real engagement comes from. That’s where focus becomes effortless. And that’s where your training starts to feel… well, fun.
If you want to find out how to teach a simple word that creates instant clarity for your dog—so they know exactly when to focus and when they’re free—just comment LOCKED IN 👇
I’ll send you a free e-book with step-by-step guidance on how to teach this in a way that becomes a total game-changer for dogs who struggle with distractions.
