Games to teach my puppy focus

Alright, let’s talk about puppies. Little bundles of boundless energy, adorable as heck, but often, their brains are bouncing around like pinballs. And if you don’t teach that little furball how to focus, how to pay attention to you, you’re gonna have a handful, not a well-behaved companion. As a vet with ten years under my belt, running my sanctuary here in Jersey, I’ve seen enough distracted puppies grow into unruly dogs to know this is critical. Focus ain’t just a fancy trick; it’s the foundation for all good behavior. So,

“Look at Me”: The Foundation of Attention

This is the first thing you teach, and it’s non-negotiable. You want their eyes on you, their attention on you.

• The Nose Magnet: Hold a super high-value treat (think a tiny piece of cooked chicken or cheese) right at your nose. The instant your puppy looks at your eyes, even for a split second, say “Yes!” or “Good!” and pop the treat in their mouth. Don’t say “Look at me” yet. You’re just rewarding the spontaneous eye contact.
• Adding the Cue: Once they’re reliably looking at your nose for the treat, start saying “Look at me!” just as they make eye contact. Reward immediately. Practice this in a quiet room, then gradually introduce very mild distractions. If they break eye contact, just reset and try again. No yelling, no frustration. This is about building a positive association with looking at you.

“Touch”: Building a Target & Focus

This trick seems simple, but it teaches your puppy to focus on a specific target, which is invaluable for guiding them.

• Hand Target: Hold out your open palm a few inches from your puppy’s nose. Most puppies will naturally sniff or touch it. The instant their nose touches your hand, say “Touch!” and give them a treat from your other hand. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
• Adding Movement: Once they’re consistently touching your hand, start moving your hand slightly farther away, making them take a step or two to touch it. Then try placing your hand to your side, or even on the floor. This teaches them to follow a target, which is essential for guiding them away from trouble or onto a scale at the vet.

“Find It!”: Focused Sniffing & Problem Solving

A puppy’s nose is a powerful tool. Using it for a purpose helps them focus their energy and tires them out mentally.

• Easy Hides: While your puppy watches, place a tiny, high-value treat on the floor just a few inches away. Say “Find it!” and encourage them to sniff it out. Lots of praise when they get it.
• Increasing Difficulty: As they get better, make the hiding spots slightly harder – under a blanket, behind a chair leg, or tucked into a simple snuffle mat. The mental effort of sniffing out rewards is surprisingly exhausting and helps them focus their boundless energy on a task. This also teaches them to ignore distractions and stick with the job.

My Jersey Straight Talk: Consistency and Calmness

Listen up. Training a puppy to focus ain’t a one-and-done deal. It’s a daily commitment. These sessions should be short – like, 2-5 minutes, tops, a few times a day – because puppies have tiny attention spans. Always end on a positive note, even if it’s just for one successful “Look at me.” Use tiny, high-value treats and lots of enthusiastic, happy praise. Never yell, never punish, never get frustrated. That’ll just make them scared or shut down, and then you’ve really got a problem.

Focus is the key that unlocks everything else in training. You teach your puppy to pay attention to you, and you’ve got a partner ready to learn. You put the work in now, calmly and consistently, and you’ll build a bond and a well-behaved dog that makes you proud. And that, my friend, is a fact.