These are all great ideas. Thanks!

We are not quite ready for Petsmart yet, but that will definitely be on the list. Costco, too. If a dog can concentrate with people pushing those big carts they can do it pretty much anywhere.

There is a park I know of that is next to an off leash dog park. I'm thinking about using that for dogs as distractions. I figure we can start out at the other end of the field and work our way closer. That way we are working near crazy dogs but they are behind a fence.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

in the parking lot near the entrance to a rehab facility, where there were wheelchairs, walkers, vans, and more

Thanks Connie! This is a perfect one because part of the reason I'm doing this training is to prepare for the CGC. Walkers, canes and wheelchairs are a hard one to find at a level that you can completely proof a behavior.

I'm also looking at different clubs to train with because I have decided that I want to do Rally O with her and possibly agility.

A really simple one i like is changing my body position in relation to them. like if i got them doing stands with them right in front of me everything is perfect, move it to heel position and ask for the stand from a sit, then ask them to do it with my back turned.

Somebody whistling and waving tasty treats is always a good one. you can vary the distance, food and the level of excitement from the decoy.

Also i go near busy streets and work there. Time of day and the street can really help you predict levels of distraction.

Depending on the dog, night time can be distracting, places they would normally find relatively comfortable can be kinda spooky at night.

If you have a friend with a dog you could have them play with there dog (on leash of course) i know that's a huge distraction for my dogs and take turns doing OB, or just both do your OB at the same time.

anytime i go near a new distraction i always do just engagement work for the first session and maybe more depending on his attitude in the given environment and it has really helped.

Good luck, i like this thread I'm always thinking about new distraction ideas.

 Quote: Robert Kirkwood

... i like this thread I'm always thinking about new distraction ideas. ...

Me too.

More nighttime stuff -- great reminder!

The parks here have been full of distractions lately, since the weather is getting nicer. First, it was the geese. They stop over on their way north and there were a lot of them (gaggles, in fact). That was good to work on engagement and not wild life chasing. You could get pretty close to them and they didn't bother moving.

Now the fields are full of kids playing lacrosse (not today--a foot and a half of snow). So we're working on not chasing the wild kids. She's doing great with it. We work our way closer to the action gradually.

I go to pet warehouses every Sunday morning for distractions, It's always crazy in there, and many people, 98.5 percent, that have no control of their dogs! It helps with his training and also mine...be prepared for anything! Agway stores are another good place. We live close to a Fair ground that has something going on every weekend, Llama shows, horse shows, poultry shows, flower showa, dog shows, even K9 training teams, so this is a favorite place.

I walk around rehab and nursing homes for the wheelchair, crutches, and vans backing up, also a local senior living community.

I can't wait for nice weather, swimming areas are another great spot, lakes, camp grounds. My last GSD always wanted to "save"
people when they jumped in a lake or pool, he never out grew this, so needless to say, he didn't spend much time around our pool!

I am working on Benny's reactivity too. He is an 11 month GSD. Because we have gone to an Assisted Living home to visit my mother since he was 8 weeks he is good with walkers, wheel chairs. We have also gone to Pet Smart regularly since he was 16 weeks.
I tend to go on a week day when it is less crowded. I have found that for the most part the dogs people bring in are well behaved,

Now that Benny is a "teenager" I have to keep him at a distance around other dogs at Pet Smart. I will not yet walk down aisle where he will pass another dog closely or stand in line behind another dog, because is I did he would get excited and bark, or worse, depending on the dog, lunge. Because he loves going to Pet Smart he starts barking in the car as soon as we pull into the lot so he is learning that he has to be calm to get out of the car, and walk calmly by my side before we go in. Some days it takes 20 minutes to get from the car to the store.

We are taking a class to prepare for the CGC and the trainer said this is a good way to practice polite non interested behavior around other dogs.

There is no way Benny could handle a skate park yet but maybe some day. Noisy, jerky, moving things are way too much.

I like the Star Bucks and Costco idea.I think he can handle that. It would be a great time to play some of the Control unleashed games. Watching soccer or baseball games at the park would be good too, as long as we are a distance from the ball and runners


I have noticed him being more easily triggered in the dark too. with the recent time change it is dark on our morning walks and he is on high alert. He gets very excited by the glowing cats eyes on the path!

I don't know if you have a Home Depot where you live, but it's a great place. They allow you to bring your dog in and there's lot of noise, people, forklifts, slippery floors, etc. Busy parking lot too! Kasey still gets a little nervous there - good practice.

 Quote: tammy moore

I can't wait for nice weather, swimming areas are another great spot, lakes, camp grounds. My last GSD always wanted to "save"
people when they jumped in a lake or pool, he never out grew this, so needless to say, he didn't spend much time around our pool!

My childhood GSD always wanted to "save people" tobogganing down snowy hills... for some reason i don't think the parents would appreciate his efforts.

This sounds insane but it will make sense LOL once I explain. The best distractions I have found in my house are the kid's toys, the NOISY kind and well kids in general. Even if you do not have kids, maybe a local park where they play or day care center?
A different environment to train in would have to be a truck stop simply because of the different loud noise of brakes setting, air being released from the trucks, the vibrations and the general loudness in the area. Most of them have grassy areas away from where the truckers drive through.
If she can handle trains then the big trucks will not be a problem.
This is my first post, I hope it helps.
Danielle