The "airplane" focus game: teach your dog to look at you in 5 minutes
If your dog ignores you, pulls toward every distraction or "only listens when there's food", this is the game to start with. It teaches one of the most important skills in all of dog training: choosing to look at you.
The idea is simple. You hold a treat out to the side, like an airplane wing. Your dog naturally stares at the treat — but the treat only comes when they look away from it and up at your face. Within a few minutes, most dogs start to figure out the puzzle: "Looking at my human makes good things happen."
You'll need
- 10–15 small, soft treats your dog loves (pea-sized pieces)
- A quiet room with few distractions
- About 5 minutes
How to play
- Get set. Stand or sit in front of your dog. Hold a treat in one hand and stretch that arm straight out to the side at shoulder height — your "airplane wing".
- Wait quietly. Your dog will stare at the treat, maybe whine or sniff. Don't say anything and don't move your arm. Keep the treat out of reach.
- Catch the glance. The moment your dog looks away from the treat and toward your face — even for a split second — say "yes!" in a happy voice.
- Pay up. Immediately bring the treat to your dog. Always deliver it from the hand that was "the wing", so your dog learns that looking at you is what earns the treat.
- Repeat and switch sides. Do 5–10 repetitions, switching arms. Stop while your dog is still keen — short and fun beats long and frustrating.
Level up over the next few days
| Level | What to change |
|---|---|
| 1 | Reward any glance toward your face. |
| 2 | Wait for real eye contact before saying "yes". |
| 3 | Wait for eye contact lasting 1–2 seconds, then 3–5 seconds. |
| 4 | Use both arms as "wings" with a treat in each hand. |
| 5 | Play in new places: the yard, a quiet street, the park entrance. |
Troubleshooting
My dog jumps up at my arm.
Hold the treat higher or close your hand around it, and simply wait. Don't say "no" — just let jumping not work. Reward the moment all four paws are on the floor and your dog glances at you.
My dog never looks away from the treat.
Make a tiny kissy noise or say their name once to help, then reward the glance. Use a slightly less exciting treat, or play when your dog isn't super hungry.
My dog gives up and walks away.
Make it easier: reward even a small head turn toward you. Play for shorter sessions and end on a success.
Why this simple game is so powerful
Focus is the foundation for almost every other skill. A dog who checks in with you is easier to walk on a loose leash, easier to call away from distractions and less likely to bark at every passer-by. Short thinking games like this one also tire your dog's brain, which can calm restless and bored dogs.
Did your dog enjoy this? A version of this game appears in the first module of Brain Training for Dogs — and it's just the start. The full course builds on it with 21+ games across 7 modules, from scent games to impulse control and "genius" tricks, all force-free.
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