Look My Way
Focus • Disengagement • Confidence • Emotional Regulation • Independence
Description
A gentle connection game that teaches your dog to check in with you from a distance. Look My Way builds trust, confidence, and emotional safety without any pressure to approach. It’s especially helpful for fearful, sensitive, or touch-worried dogs who need to feel safe before moving closer.
How to Play
Start by creating distance. Toss a piece of food slightly away from you (imagine 10 o’clock or 2 o’clock). Allow your dog to move out and find it in their own time.
Wait for the check-in. As your dog finishes and naturally turns to look back towards you, mark that moment (“Nice” or “Good”).There is no pressure to come closer — the glance is enough.
Reinforce by sending them away again. Immediately toss another piece of food out to the opposite side. This keeps the pattern flowing and maintains distance while building connection.
Repeat the rhythm. Toss out → dog finds → dog looks back → mark → toss away again.Over time, this creates a natural reflex to check in with you, even when your dog is moving away.
Build confidence across environments. Practise on and off lead, indoors and outdoors, gradually introducing new environments while keeping the same calm, predictable rhythm.
Why it Matters
Some dogs find proximity difficult — whether due to fear, sensitivity to touch, or uncertainty around people. Look My Way removes that pressure entirely.
Instead of asking your dog to come closer, you’re reinforcing the choice to stay connected at a distance. This builds trust, reduces anxiety, and creates a safe foundation for future proximity work.
It also develops a powerful check-in reflex that supports recall, loose lead walking, and emotional regulation in real-world situations.
Tips for Success
Keep your body language soft and neutral — no leaning or reaching.
Don’t call your dog — let the check-in happen naturally.
Use gentle, sideways throws to maintain space and avoid pressure.
If your dog struggles, increase distance and reduce intensity.
Pair with Turn to Me when your dog is ready to build proximity.
Think connection first, closeness later.