BUILDING ENGAGEMENT IN DOG TRAINING
One of the foundational elements of successful dog training is engagement, a dog's willing, focused, and enthusiastic attention on the handler. Building engagement based on clarity, motivation, and a strong human-canine relationship. Rather than relying on compulsion or repetition, engagement must be cultivated as a skill through positive reinforcement, play, and intentional interaction. At its core, engagement means that your dog wants to work with you. It is not something that can be forced or assumed.
Engagement is treated as a trainable behavior, just like sit, stay, or recall. Dogs are naturally curious and eager to interact with their environment; the goal of engagement training is to make you the most rewarding and interesting thing in that environment. Engagement must be voluntary once learned . The dog chooses to focus on the handler. Rewards though drive motivation, like food, toys, and praise should be used purposefully to reinforce attention.
* Clarity is critical. Dogs thrive on consistent, well-timed communication.
* Motion builds emotion. Play and movement stimulate drive and focus.
Step 1: Teaching Verbal Markers
The first step in building engagement is establishing clear communication through marker training. Verbal markers let your dog know when they've done something right, and what’s coming next. Ellis uses:
* "Yes" – A terminal marker that signals the dog has done the correct behavior and will now get a reward.
* "Good" – A continuation marker that tells the dog to keep doing what they’re doing.
* "No" – A non-reward marker indicating the dog made a mistake (without punishment).
Begin by “charging” the marker—say “Yes” and immediately deliver a high-value treat. Repeat this until the dog begins to associate the word with a reward, building a bridge between behavior and reinforcement.
Step 2: Shaping Attention Through Free Engagement
Once your markers are charged, you can begin shaping engagement through free-form interaction. In a quiet space, hold a reward but don’t offer it. Wait for the dog to voluntarily look at you. The moment they offer eye contact or focus, say “Yes” and reward. This teaches your dog that paying attention to you causes good things to happen.
