Look at That (LAT)
Protocol developed by Leslie McDevitt and published in her book Control Unleashed.
Does your dog bark, lunge, or tense up when they see other dogs, people, or moving things? The Look at That game is a simple but powerful training exercise that helps reactive or easily overwhelmed dogs learn how to stay calm and focused. Instead of trying to ignore their triggers, your dog learns that calmly looking at them earns rewards — building confidence, emotional control, and trust in the process.
How it works
Look at That teaches dogs to handle real-world triggers with calm curiosity instead of reactivity.
By pairing the sight of something exciting or scary with rewards, your dog learns that looking is good — and that they can trust you to guide them.
What you’ll need
Your dog on a lead
High-value soft treats (e.g. chicken, cheese, sausage)
A quiet street or open area where you can control how close or far you are from the triggers
A marker word to let them know when they have done the right thing, i.e. “Good!” or “Yes!”
Preparation
Start by teaching your dog that the marker word (yes or good) always means a treat is coming. Do this at home first when your dog is calm by saying the word and then giving them a treat immediately. Do this repeatedly until your dog looks expectantly at you whenever you use the marker word.
Steps
Start at a safe distance from a trigger (i.e. dog, person, bike)
Be far enough away that your dog can see the trigger but isn’t reacting (not yet barking, lunging, staring hard, or ignoring food).Mark the moment they look with “Good!” or “Yes!”
As soon as your dog looks at the trigger, say your marker word, then immediately give them a treat.Repeat a few times
Keep it short and positive. You can do a few rounds and then take a break by walking away from the trigger. If the trigger leaves, let your dog watch them go and do a few more “good → treat” repetitions.Watch your dog’s body language
If they start fixating, ignoring treats, or seem tense, you’re likely too close to the trigger so move further away and try again. Your dog should be able to look calmly and still take food.Celebrate progress
When your dog looks at the trigger and then looks back at you on their own, they’re starting to understand the game! Give them lots of praise and extra treats.Increase difficulty slowly
Over time slowly increase the intensity of the exposure to the trigger. Note that the below things can all increase the triggers intensity, so increment very slowly:Closeness to the other dog
If the other dog is barking, running or playing
If there is a lot of energy in the air, for example kids on playgrounds or being near a busy road
Tips for success
Keep sessions short (just a few minutes).
Always finish before your dog gets frustrated or overwhelmed.
Don’t worry if you need to move away — that’s part of the learning process!
The goal isn’t to make your dog ignore triggers — it’s to help them notice calmly and not overreact.
The Look at That game is one of my favourite tools for helping dogs feel more comfortable in the world. It’s gentle, effective, and builds a stronger connection between you and your dog. With practice and patience, your dog can learn that the things that once caused big reactions are just part of everyday life — no big deal.
