Why Engagement Matters in Dog Training – Especially for Reactive Dogs

When it comes to dog training, there’s one often-overlooked skill that can make all the difference—engagement. Whether you're working on loose leash walking, recall, or managing reactivity, engagement is the foundation that supports all of your training goals.

What is Engagement?

In dog training, engagement refers to your dog voluntarily checking in with you—often by offering eye contact—without being prompted. On walks, this might look like your dog briefly glancing up at you every so often as you stroll along together. It's your dog’s way of saying, “I’m with you, I’m paying attention.”

This check-in behavior shows that your dog is mentally present and tuned into your movements, rather than being lost in the environment or hyper-focused on distractions.

What I Aim For

In training, I aim for dogs to check in roughly once every minute during walks. Here’s how I manage that:

• If a dog is checking in more frequently than once a minute, I start to reduce the frequency of rewards— treating every second or third check-in, rather than every single time. I want my dogs to sniff and watch the world around us to help them get as much mental stimulation as possible during walks so the “goldilocks zone” between constant attention and zero engagement is the aim.

• If a dog is checking in less frequently, or not at all, I praise and treat every time they do it. This builds value in the behavior and encourages them to check in more often. It’s all about helping the dog understand that looking to you pays off. With some dogs I’ll even make a small noise or say their name to encourage check-ins at first, but this has to be phased out quickly so they understand that they should check in unprompted.

Why Engagement Is So Valuable

There are countless benefits to building engagement, but here are some of the most important—especially if your dog is reactive:

1. It Builds Focus

Engagement teaches your dog that paying attention to you is not only worthwhile, but rewarding. This is especially important in stimulating or challenging environments, where your dog might otherwise get overwhelmed or distracted.

2. It Creates a Communication Loop

When your dog checks in, it gives you a chance to communicate. You can use that moment to give feedback, change direction, reinforce calm behavior, or preemptively intervene before your dog reacts to something.

3. It Helps Prevent Reactivity

For reactive dogs, catching a trigger before they do is half the battle. If your dog is regularly checking in with you, you’re more likely to notice when they’ve spotted something and redirect their focus early. This reduces the chances of an outburst and helps them stay calm.

4. It Builds Trust

Engagement is a two-way street. When your dog learns that you’re worth checking in with—and that you’ll respond to them in a calm, consistent way—it builds trust. This is especially important for anxious or reactive dogs who need to feel safe with their handler.

Final Thoughts

Engagement isn’t about micromanaging your dog or demanding their constant attention. It’s about building a habit of communication and mutual awareness. A dog who checks in regularly is easier to train, easier to walk, and far better equipped to handle the unexpected.

Start small. Praise and treat those early check-ins. Over time, you'll find your dog naturally looks to you for guidance—and that can make all the difference.