Using movement to build focus

In the last blog, we looked at how mental enrichment, particularly sniffing and scentwork, can help lower your dog’s arousal levels and help them to feel more relaxed and focused.   In this blog, we’re going to look at another really good way to achieve this.  

This is looking at how we can use movement as a tool for good and not just as a way of expending your dog’s energy.  Purposeful movement will help your dog learn to use their brain more, focus better and really engage with you. 

How to optimise the use of movement

When we think about movement for dogs, we often picture:

• Long walks

• Chasing balls

• Running around off lead

• Rough & tumble play with other dogs

While these activities can be fun in small doses, they don’t always help with focus or relaxation. In fact, they can sometimes do the opposite and increase arousal.

What does Purposeful Movement mean? 

Purposeful movement is when your dog is using their body in a more mindful way.

This might include:

• Walking over logs

• Stepping onto tree stumps

• Climbing small natural obstacles

• Moving slowly over uneven ground

• Pausing and balancing

These types of activities encourage your dog to slow down, think about what they are doing and become more aware of their body.

Why This Builds Focus

When your dog is engaged in this kind of movement, something really interesting happens in their brain.  Because they can’t just charge around on autopilot, they have to pay attention, process information and make decisions for themselves.

This naturally brings their arousal level down and increases their ability to focus.  It also creates more opportunities for communication between you and your dog, because they start to look to you for guidance.

Confidence building

Movement-based activities are also brilliant for building confidence, particularly for dogs who are easily distracted, a bit anxious or get over stimulated easily.

Learning how to navigate different surfaces and obstacles can help them feel more capable and in control.  When a dog feels more confident, they are less likely to over react to things, are better at listening to you and seem to have more balanced behaviour.

Some ideas to use this on your walks

You don’t need an agility course to get started as nature provides plenty of natural material for you to work with.  Next time you’re out, try:

• Encouraging your dog to step onto a low wall or tree stump

• Walking slowly over logs or uneven ground

• Letting your dog explore different textures and surfaces

• Letting them splash their way through a shallow stream

You might find that you enjoy this more than constantly throwing a ball for your dog as it is more interactive, and it’s amazing how much pride you can feel watching your dog accomplish a challenge!

Adolescent dogs

If you have an adolescent dog, this can be especially helpful.  Because adolescent dogs often lack impulse control and struggle to regulate their emotions, using activities like this encourages them to slow down and learn how to think for themselves.  

Adding in this type of movement helps slow everything down and gives them a constructive outlet for both their physical energy and their busy brains.

Doing things differently

Just like with enrichment, this isn’t about doing more ‘stuff’, it’s just about choosing to do things differently and a bit more slowly.

By combining sniffing and searching (from the last blog) with purposeful movement, your dog will start to be more focussed and more engaged/connected with you.  And remember all this engagement and focus will help you with everything, as it underpins and supports lots of other behaviour.

Coming Next…

In the final blog of this series, we’ll bring everything together and look at what this actually looks like on a real-life walk, so you are confident that you can apply it with your dog.

If you’d like help with your dog, I run training walks and one-to-one sessions in Romford, Essex and surrounding areas. Feel free to get in touch or keep an eye out for upcoming events.

Look forward to seeing you soon,

Christine x