I am taking my Bindi to training each week. I have realized that when the instructor is talking to us about what we are to do next, I am listening to her and have disengaged with Bindi. Bindi isn't the least bit interested in toys so a tug toy is not for her. How can I keep her engaged while the teaching is giving us our next routine to do? Feed her treats for other behaviors?
What do you recommend? Thanks sharon

Does your dog know a touch command? I play nose-pattycake with my dog sitting out front when I need to keep her engaged while I'm having a conversation. I throw in an occasional mark-treat to keep her going.

Try different treats until you find the one that is irresistible. It's probably something really stinky.

I've found that having a "good-better-best" selection of treats helps. The highest value thing I ever found was a god-awful stick of deer sausage somebody gave us as a gift. I cut that thing up into teeny pieces and used it for months, and all of us grieved when it was gone. One whiff of that and my dogs would be laser-focused at the thought of getting a morsel.

In class, playing the "watch me" game is a good one to do between exercises--like when the teacher is explaining the next thing.

It's pretty easy to teach. Just start by marking and treating when the dog looks you in the eye and then start extending the time the dog has to maintain the stare.

When I take the dogs to class, I ALWAYS give them treats for sitting there quietly. I have had some pretty long winded instructors, and that's the best way I have found to stay engaged with my dog without being distracting to other dogs in the class.

Oh, I am usually on the floor with the dog, too. If we're in for a REALLY long winded lecture, I will give the dog a belly rub I've never had any problems with the dog disengaging with me during these "breaks" - they are always ready to go as soon as I can drag my butt off the floor

During flyball practice, if the dogs aren't running they have to be crated. Even when Toni is in the crate, I will drop treats in for her randomly. I might add that Toni is the ONLY dog there that will remain quiet in the crate when other dogs are running- everyone is SOOO jealous!!!

I go to class or practice with the feeling that there is NOTHING in that room more interesting than my dog- and I make sure the dog knows it

I have to share this story... once at flyball practice I was at the start line with Toni in the ready position (between my feet) when the coach got to talking. About 2 minutes in, Toni was on her back looking for a belly rub- still between my feet The rest of the team loved it. When the coach got done talking, I said "ready" and Toni jumped up ready to go.

Great answers so far, and I have used most of the techniques described, depending on the circumstances. Sometimes, in class, it is important to be listening carefully to the instructor and/or observing what they are demonstrating, and in a situation like this, I can only give my dog an occasional glance or watch him out of the corner of my eye. In that instance, I will ask the dog to down and expect him to stay there quietly until I release him. It's kind of a "stand-by mode."

But whenever possible, between exercises or while waiting my turn, I keep the dog engaged by thinking up impromptu little sequences, using their familiar commands, keeping it quiet and unobstrusive to the rest of the class, and utilizing whatever small piece of floor space I may have. I might ask for sit-stand-down, or heel a few steps forward, then a few steps backward, or little pivots or circles, you get the idea. It doesn't have to be a formal obedience command; you can even employ tricks, if your dog knows any and will do them without getting overly excited.

Some classes can get very long and I don't feel it is fair or realistic to expect my dogs to give me 100 percent engagement for an hour or longer. So if there is going to be a longer break, I'll often do what Kelly mentioned and get down on the floor with my dog and ask them to just relax with me.

And yes, in all of the above, I treat generously for both staying engaged and for staying quietly relaxed if that's what I asked for. I usually bring a variety of treats to a class and use the extra special ones when I feel I need them to keep the dog's mind with me.