Jon, if your rewarding with a "good boy" because the dog is to distracted to take a food reward, guess what your rewarding?! The dog paying attention to the distraction.

ps
Stay away from dog parks. They are a accident waiting to happen,in particular if you dog has no obedience!

Bob, thanks. But here's my dilemma. If my dog is distracted and I say "sit" and he does, shouldn't that get a mark and a reward? Or only mark and reward when he isn't distracted?


We do avoid the dog parks, but I have taken him when his reactivity started to see if it was dogs in general, or just when on a leash.

And thanks to everyone else, I will try to put together a solid plan. I wish Leerburg and Michael Ellis would put together a dvd of dealing with problem behaviors (hint, hint). There's so much info from so many people out there it's hard to know who to listen to.

Rather than give him a sit when he's distracted, you need to move farther from the distraction for marker training. In the event that you need him to sit under heavy distraction, do not mark it, and move farther away as soon as possible.

There are times when you may need him to be obedient and you cannot control the comings and goings of others. However, you cannot expect the ob to be solid, so try not to put him in that position.

IMO, the best way to overcome this is with a "look" command (taught under zero distraction) which requires the dog to focus on me. The look and sit are the two easiest behaviors to proof as you add distraction, and proofing the look under distraction will give you immediate feedback as to whether you're working at the right distance.

If you are able to control the distractions you work under, definitely start in zero distraction and make sure the ob is solid before adding the distraction and decreasing distance. As you do this, as Connie pointed out, his circle of reactivity will shrink. At the same time, his obedience should be improving, his repertoire should be expanding, and you should be getting to the point where you can use his zone to proof the sit and other behaviors. It doesn't take as long as it sounds.

I agree completely with Duane's post, and of course Bob's.

And it doesn't take as long as it sounds.

It takes lot of words to describe, but it's a straightforward process.

It's also a methodical and careful process for me, and I don't "test" by flooding during it. No dog parks, no pet stores (for me).

 Quote: Duane Hull

.... IMO, the best way to overcome this is with a "look" command (taught under zero distraction) which requires the dog to focus on me. The look and sit are the two easiest behaviors to proof as you add distraction, and proofing the look under distraction will give you immediate feedback as to whether you're working at the right distance.

I too use a focus command like look to start with.

Duane & Connie,

Thanks so much for the advice. "Look" is a command he's pretty good with, even under mild distraction. I guess I just need to get out and do more work with him That's good, now we have a clearer goal and method to achieve it. Thanks again!!

Jon

You can do this. This is good, positive, bonding work, with a lifelong effect.

I agree 100% on the look/watch me command. That puts the total concentration on you the handler. Watching the other dog, even with a reliable sit, shows your not totally in control of the dog.

I agree too. I started practicing the look command as I sat with my husband who was watching tv. I got lots of good yummy treats. As soon as my dog or dogs looked at me I rewarded them. I did this a lot. then I up the anti. In the back yard, in the front yard. If a distraction came that was too much for them (I always had them on a leash so they couldn't get away) I would move them away from the distraction until they could focus and then begin again. around friends, then parks, then when you take your walk with them. Always high rewards and many goofy parties. bindi is really good at engagement now. Cody is getting better. He is a highly emotional dog so it has taken longer. But I now see that when a dog comes along or a distraction, he looks at me. He knows when he does a reward will come and we will rejoice together.
IT does take time, but it is well worth it. Now doing distance work with bindi, she keeps her eyes on me and waits patiently for what I will ask next. At a distance if I couldn't keep her attention, all kinds of crazy things could happen, and she would not receive a command I would give her. Keep working at it. My cody has taken a little more time than most, but even he is coming around. Your dog will too, be consistent, make sure you prepare for each training session. Remember we are both being trained! Enjoy your dog! I have seen that when I enjoy my pups the most, they learn the best. sharon

Thanks Sharon!!