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Winter weather doesn’t have to slow down your pet’s training! Whether you’re preparing for therapy visits or sharpening skills for your next adventure, engagement is key. Training indoors is a great way to strengthen your bond, build focus, and keep your pet mentally engaged—without freezing your paws off!
Here are some fun and effective ways to train engagement indoors so your pet stays eager to work with you, no matter the season.
Marker Training for Faster Learning
Using a marker (like the word "GOOD!") can speed up training and improve engagement. Indoors is the perfect place to fine-tune timing!
Mark Eye Contact: Every time your pet looks at you, mark and reward. This strengthens engagement in all settings.
Mark for Movement: If your pet naturally moves toward you (especially around distractions), mark and reward. This teaches them to stay engaged even with distractions.
Training Through Play
Play isn’t just fun—it’s one of the best ways to build engagement!
Tug with Rules: Tug is great for engagement, but make sure you add structure to keep the game under control! Teach a solid “Drop” so your pet learns to play with you, not against you. After they've dropped the tug, wait for eye contact before continuing the game.
Fetch with Drop: Ask your pet to drop a toy, then wait for eye contact. As soon as they look at you, immediately throw it again as a reward. This builds responsiveness to cues while keeping them engaged!
Put Away Fun Toys: If there's a toy your pet obsesses over (or has at least appeared interested in for those low toy motivation pets!), make sure to only get it out for training games with you. When the training/game is over, put it away until your next session. This keeps your pet's interest in the toy higher and sets you up as the pathway to all things fun!
Engagement Walks (Yes, Indoors!)
Even if you’re stuck inside, you can practice structured walking and focus exercises.
Inside Heelwork: Walk your pet around the house in a controlled heel, rewarding eye contact and engagement.
Figure 8 Walking: Set up objects (like chairs) and practice loose-leash walking around them to reinforce focus.
Proprioception Course Walking: Guide your pet over pillows, under tables, or around objects to keep them engaged with you while walking. Aim to go through 12 obstacles in a row (or 6 obstacles in a row and then turn around and go back through the other way).
Indoor Recall Games
A strong recall is one of the best ways to keep your pet engaged with you. Winter is the perfect time to practice!
Recall Ping-Pong: Have two family members (or you plus a friend!) call your pet back and forth, rewarding them each time they arrive.
Surprise Recall: Call your pet randomly throughout the day and reward them for coming quickly. This keeps them tuned in to you!
Hide and Seek: Hide somewhere in the house and call your pet—when they find you, throw a party for them!
Calm Engagement Training
Engagement isn't all about excitement! A pet that can’t relax can’t focus, and winter is the perfect time to teach your dog or cat how to stay calm. When you start indoors—where there are fewer distractions—you give your pet the foundation they need to stay engaged even in busy environments when summer rolls around.
The Calm Down: Don't feel like going out? Spend a cozy afternoon in doing The Calm Down with your pet. Make sure to wait for total relaxation — soft body, blinky eyes, still tail and ears. This helps your pet learn that calmness is rewarding and sets the stage for better engagement in all training.
Sitting on the Leash: Sit on your pet’s leash so they have just enough slack to sit or lie down, then ignore them. With time, they’ll settle on their own, teaching them patience and impulse control—two essential skills for therapy work and adventure outings.
Build Up to Summer Distractions : Once your pet can relax in a quiet room, start adding small distractions like different locations, soft background noise, or new people in the room. By the time summer comes, they’ll be ready to handle outdoor distractions without losing the ability to engage with you!
Make Winter Your Engagement Season!
Cold weather doesn’t mean training has to stop. If anything, winter is the BEST time to focus on engagement! Building a strong foundation for a pet who listens and stays focused indoors will help your pet do even better when distractions are everywhere! Whether you're preparing for therapy work or just building a better relationship, engagement training will set your pet up for success year-round.
Which of these activities will you try first? Let me know in the comments!
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