🐾 Training Tip: Build Source Focus First

Before a dog can work with you, they need to learn how to commit to a source.

Source focus is the dog’s ability to stay mentally and physically engaged with what they want — food, a toy, or an object — without needing constant direction from the handler.

Instead of rewarding eye contact or checking in, we teach dogs to:

Lock onto the source
Maintain engagement through movement
Stay clear and intentional in their choice

This creates:

Stronger motivation
Cleaner movement
Less handler dependence
More confident, thinking dogs

💡 Key idea:

We don’t pull focus off the source —

we teach the dog how to use it properly.

Before a dog can work with you, they need to learn how to commit to a source.

Source focus is the dog’s ability to stay mentally and physically engaged with what they want — food, a toy, or an object — without needing constant direction from the handler.

Instead of rewarding eye contact or checking in, we teach dogs to: