Sometimes you need to interrupt what your dog is doing because it’s something you don't want them to practice, it’s escalating a situation or may even be dangerous.

Your natural response might be to say "No!" but your dog doesn't know what that means. You may find yourself repeating it over and over without your dog responding. It’s also hard to say in a way that doesn’t sound cross, and you don’t want to startle your dog into stopping the behavior as this can damage your relationship and lead to a breakdown in trust. Fortunately, there is a better way - the "Treats" game or Positive Interrupter.

This is the simplest game in the world! You’re going to teach your dog that when they hear the word "Treats!", amazing things come from you. In time they will come running over no matter what they're doing or what is happening in the environment. Of course, you can choose another word if you prefer, but make sure it’s something short that you can say in an upbeat tone.

With your dog beside you, cheerily say "Treats!" before immediately feeding them one.

Repeat this several times until your dog starts to turn to you as soon as they hear the word. This means that they are getting the link between the interrupter word and rewards arriving.

Next you can practice when they are distracted by something. Make sure it’s nothing too exciting yet!

Say ‘treats!’ and see how quickly your dog responds. Always reward your dog, no matter how long they take. If they struggle it’s just information that they haven’t practiced enough to be able to respond in that situation yet. Keep practicing around lesser distractions to help build up their skills.

You want your dog to be able to look at you instantly when you say “treats”. When they can, you’re ready to practice around bigger distractions.

In time you will even be able to positively interrupt your dog if they are in the middle of reacting to something, so that you can move away to a safe space together.

Take your time and don't be tempted to rush the training steps - the more time you spend on this, the better your end result will be!