Look at That Training for Reactive Dogs: A Step-by-Step LAT Guide

By Dr Duncan Houston.

Look at That, commonly called LAT, is a reward-based training exercise for dogs that become worried, excited or frustrated by things in their environment.

Instead of forcing a dog to ignore a trigger, LAT allows them to notice it safely. The moment they look, you mark that behaviour and provide a reward. With repetition, the dog can learn to observe the trigger briefly and then reorient towards their handler.

LAT was developed by trainer and author Leslie McDevitt as part of the Control Unleashed program. It can be extremely useful, but it must be practised at a distance where the dog still feels safe enough to learn.

Quick Answer

To teach LAT:

Condition a clicker or marker word away from triggers.
Begin far enough from the trigger that your dog remains comfortable.
Allow your dog to notice the trigger naturally.
Mark the instant they look at it.
Deliver the reward near you and away from the trigger.
Let the dog look again and repeat.
Move farther away if your dog becomes tense, fixates or stops eating.
Increase difficulty gradually and change only one variable at a time.

Do not wait for barking or lunging before marking. LAT should be used below your dog’s reaction threshold, not in the middle of an intense reaction.

What Is Look at That Training?

LAT teaches a dog that noticing something in the environment can become the beginning of a safe, predictable sequence:

Trigger appears → Dog notices trigger → Marker → Dog turns for reward

Over time, the trigger may begin to predict food, communication and movement back towards the handler rather than immediate barking, lunging, freezing or escape.

The exercise does not require the dog to stare at the trigger or maintain eye contact with you. A brief glance is enough.

Veterinary Partner describes LAT as a pattern game developed by Leslie McDevitt to help dogs communicate about something in their environment. Read the Veterinary Partner LAT guide.

What Is a Reactive Dog?

Reactivity describes an intense response to a particular trigger.

A reactive dog may:

Bark
Growl
Lunge
Pull
Jump
Whine
Freeze
Hide
Attempt to escape
Stare or fixate
Redirect onto the lead or handler
Refuse food
Become unable to respond to familiar cues

Reactivity is not a diagnosis. Dogs may react because of fear, frustration, excitement, pain, territorial behaviour, previous learning or several causes at once.

Common LAT Triggers

LAT may be used carefully around:

Other dogs
Unfamiliar people
Children
People wearing hats or uniforms
Bicycles
Scooters
Skateboards
Vehicles
Livestock
Veterinary staff
Grooming equipment
Household appliances
Unfamiliar objects
Movement outside windows
Sounds presented at a controlled volume

The setup must be adapted to the individual dog and trigger. A dog worried about stationary objects may need a different plan from one that lunges at fast-moving animals.

Step 1: Rule Out Medical Causes

Arrange a veterinary examination if reactivity appears suddenly, becomes significantly worse or occurs during handling.

Possible medical contributors include:

Arthritis
Spinal pain
Dental disease
Ear disease
Skin irritation
Gastrointestinal discomfort
Vision changes
Hearing loss
Neurological disease
Cognitive decline
Medication side effects

Pain can shorten a dog’s tolerance and increase defensive responses. Training is unlikely to succeed if the dog remains physically uncomfortable.

Seek veterinary advice promptly if reactivity accompanies weakness, altered movement, confusion, seizures, reduced appetite, sensitivity to touch or a sudden personality change.

Step 2: Assess Safety Before Training

LAT is a training exercise, not a substitute for physical safety.

Depending on your dog’s history, you may need:

A secure, well-fitted harness
A fixed-length lead
A safety connection between harness and collar
Visual barriers
Secure fencing
Greater distance from triggers
A positively conditioned basket muzzle
Help from a qualified reward-based professional

Do not begin near traffic, crowded pathways, narrow spaces or uncontrolled off-lead dogs.

If your dog has bitten, attempted to bite or redirects onto people, obtain professional guidance before setting up trigger exercises.

When Is Immediate Help Needed?

Stop the exercise and prioritise safety if your dog:

Lunges with enough force to compromise equipment
Redirects towards the handler
Attempts to bite
Escapes or slips their equipment
Panics and cannot recover
Injures themselves
Makes contact with another person or animal

If a bite occurs, separate everyone without further confrontation and obtain appropriate medical or veterinary care. Puncture wounds may be deeper than they initially appear.

What Does “Under Threshold” Mean?

A dog is under threshold when they notice a trigger but remain comfortable enough to process information and learn.

Signs Your Dog May Be Under Threshold

Loose body
Soft facial expression
Normal breathing
Able to eat gently
Able to turn away
Responds to the marker
Can sniff or explore
Recovers quickly
Does not need to escape or create distance urgently

Signs Your Dog Is Approaching Threshold

Mouth closes suddenly
Body becomes still
Weight shifts forwards or backwards
Staring increases
Tail position changes
Ears become fixed
Treats are taken roughly
Scanning increases
Responses slow down
The dog repeatedly checks the trigger

Signs Your Dog Is Over Threshold

Barking
Lunging
Growling
Snapping
Frantic pulling
Attempting to flee
Refusing food
Redirecting onto the lead or handler
Remaining unable to disengage

If you are unsure, increase the distance. A little too far away is considerably more useful than a little too close.

VCA recommends beginning desensitisation at a trigger intensity low enough that the animal does not experience significant fear or stress. Read the VCA guide to desensitisation and counterconditioning.

What You Need for LAT Training

Prepare:

High-value, small treats
A clicker or short marker word such as “yes”
A secure harness and lead
A low-distraction training location
Plenty of distance
A planned exit route
A visual barrier, such as a parked vehicle, if available
A calm helper for controlled practice, if appropriate
A training diary

A mat, platform and cone can be useful in some setups, but they are not required for LAT.

Avoid holding the treats directly in front of your dog’s nose. The dog should be free to notice the environment rather than being continuously lured away from it.

Step 3: Condition the Marker

Your dog should understand the marker before triggers are introduced.

In a quiet environment:

Click once or say “yes”.
Immediately give your dog a treat.
Pause.
Repeat 10 to 15 times.

The marker should cause your dog to turn towards you in anticipation of a reward.

If the marker has little meaning, continue practising in easy environments before beginning LAT.

Step 4: Start With a Neutral Object

Before using a trigger that causes genuine concern, practise the mechanics with something emotionally neutral.

You could use:

A cone
A box
A chair
A bag
A stationary toy

Place the object at a comfortable distance.

When your dog looks at it:

Mark the glance.
Move your reward hand towards your dog.
Deliver the treat near your leg or slightly away from the object.
Allow your dog to look again.
Mark and reward again.

This teaches both of you the pattern without the pressure of a difficult trigger.

Step 5: Choose a Safe Working Distance

When introducing the real trigger, begin much farther away than you think you need to be.

Your dog should be able to:

Notice the trigger
Remain physically loose
Respond to the marker
Turn for the reward
Eat comfortably
Move away with you

Distance may mean:

Across a large field
From inside a parked vehicle
Behind a visual barrier
At the far end of a car park
Watching through a window
Using a carefully controlled helper

The correct starting distance is determined by the dog, not by what looks convenient to the handler.

Step 6: Mark the Glance

Allow your dog to notice the trigger naturally.

The instant they look towards it:

Click or say “yes”.
Deliver a high-value treat near you.
Pause while they eat.
Allow them to look at the trigger again.
Mark and reward the next glance.

You are marking the look at the trigger, not waiting for the dog to look back at you first.

The marker often prompts the dog to turn towards the handler because it predicts the reward.

Step 7: Keep Each Look Brief

LAT is not a staring competition.

Mark before the dog begins to:

Fixate
Lean forwards
Hold their breath
Stiffen
Close their mouth
Pull towards the trigger
Retreat
Bark or lunge

If you repeatedly miss the brief glance, increase distance or choose an easier trigger.

The goal is calm noticing followed by easy disengagement.

Step 8: Deliver the Reward in the Right Place

Reward placement can help your dog turn away and reset.

Useful options include:

Beside your leg
Slightly behind you
On the ground away from the trigger
In a position that encourages an easy turn

Avoid reaching the treat towards the trigger. This may pull a worried dog closer than they want to be.

For dogs fearful of people, the unfamiliar person should not lure the dog closer with food. The handler can provide rewards while maintaining a comfortable distance.

Step 9: Repeat in Short Sessions

Begin with only a few successful repetitions.

A session may include:

Three calm glances
Moving away for a sniffing break
Another three glances
Ending the session

Stop while your dog remains successful.

Long sessions can increase fatigue and trigger stacking, even if the dog appeared comfortable initially.

Step 10: Add an Optional Cue

A verbal cue is optional. The sight of the trigger can become the cue for the behaviour without you saying anything.

If you want to add a phrase such as “look at that” or “where’s the dog?”, wait until the pattern is established.

Then:

Say the cue immediately before your dog notices the trigger.
Mark the glance.
Reward near you.
Repeat consistently.

Do not use the cue to pressure your dog to search for something frightening.

Step 11: Increase Difficulty Gradually

Change only one variable at a time.

Possible variables include:

Distance
Trigger movement
Duration
Number of triggers
Noise level
Environment
Direction of approach
Familiarity
Time of day

For example, do not simultaneously move closer, add a second dog and practise in a crowded park.

If your dog struggles, return to the previous successful level.

Desensitisation and Counterconditioning

LAT often incorporates principles of desensitisation and counterconditioning.

Desensitisation

The dog encounters the trigger at a low enough intensity that they remain comfortable. Exposure increases gradually over time.

Counterconditioning

The appearance of the trigger predicts something the dog values, usually high-value food.

The emotional aim is:

Trigger appears → Good things happen

The training aim is:

Dog notices trigger → Marker → Dog receives reward

Both processes may occur together, but the session must remain controlled and below threshold.

Open Bar and Closed Bar

Some dogs benefit from a simpler counterconditioning exercise before LAT.

Open Bar

When the trigger appears, a continuous stream of small treats begins.

Closed Bar

When the trigger disappears, the food stops.

This can help build the association that the trigger predicts rewards without requiring the dog to perform a specific action.

Once the dog remains comfortable and can disengage, LAT may be introduced.

Open Bar and Closed Bar is related to LAT, but it is not the same exercise and does not require a cone, mat or formal station.

Example: LAT Around Other Dogs

Choose a large open area.
Use a calm, controlled helper dog if possible.
Begin at a substantial distance.
Allow your dog to notice the other dog.
Mark immediately.
Reward near your leg.
Repeat for several glances.
Move away for a sniffing break.
End before either dog becomes uncomfortable.

LAT is not permission to approach or arrange a greeting. A dog may learn to observe calmly without ever needing direct interaction.

Example: LAT Around Strangers

Ask the helper to remain sideways and avoid staring.
Begin at a distance where your dog remains comfortable.
Mark the instant your dog notices the person.
Reward near you.
Ask the helper to remain predictable.
End after a few successful repetitions.
Change distance or movement gradually across future sessions.

Do not ask the stranger to reach over, touch or hand-feed a worried dog.

Example: LAT for Bikes and Scooters

Fast-moving triggers can be difficult because they appear and disappear quickly.

Begin with:

A stationary bicycle
A bicycle being walked
Slow movement at a great distance
Predictable movement across the dog’s field of view

Mark early and move away before speed or proximity causes a reaction.

Do not begin beside a busy cycle path where distance cannot be controlled.

LAT for Sounds

For recorded sounds:

Begin at a very low volume.
Play the sound briefly.
Mark your dog’s acknowledgement.
Provide a reward.
Stop the sound.
Repeat only while your dog remains comfortable.

Increase either volume or duration, not both at once.

Recorded sounds may not perfectly reproduce real-world noise, so generalisation must be gradual.

What if My Dog Will Not Take Food?

Food refusal often means:

The trigger is too close
The trigger is too intense
The dog is already stressed
The environment is too difficult
The reward is not valuable enough
The dog feels unwell
The marker has not been conditioned

Increase distance and allow your dog to decompress.

Do not repeatedly place food against the dog’s mouth or use food to lure them closer to the trigger.

What if My Dog Stares at the Trigger?

Mark earlier and move farther away.

A prolonged stare may be the beginning of fixation. Deliver the reward in a position that encourages the dog to turn away.

If your dog immediately spins back and remains tense, take a movement or sniffing break rather than continuing rapid repetitions.

What if My Dog Barks or Lunges?

Do not scold or correct them.

Instead:

Create distance calmly.
Move behind a visual barrier.
Allow the dog time to recover.
End the session if necessary.
Begin farther away next time.

A reaction means the setup was too difficult at that moment. It is useful information, not proof that the method has failed.

What if My Dog Looks Back Before I Mark?

That is excellent voluntary engagement.

Reward the check-in. You can then allow your dog to look at the trigger again without immediately asking for eye contact.

LAT should support flexible observation and disengagement, not create a dog afraid to look at the environment.

What if My Dog Scans Constantly for Triggers?

Some dogs learn that finding triggers produces food and begin scanning intensely.

To reduce this:

Practise relaxation away from triggers.
Reward sniffing and environmental disengagement.
Use fewer LAT repetitions.
Add movement breaks.
Reward spontaneous check-ins.
Train in quieter areas.
End before hypervigilance develops.

The goal is calm awareness, not constant surveillance.

Can LAT Reward Aggression or Fear?

Food does not reinforce fear as though fear were a deliberate trick.

When LAT is performed correctly, the marked behaviour is a calm glance before the reactive response begins. At the same time, pairing the trigger with something positive may help improve the dog’s emotional response.

However, timing and distance matter. If the dog is already panicking or attempting to bite, LAT is not the immediate priority. Create safety and seek professional help.

Signs the Session Is Going Well

Look for:

Shorter glances
Easy turns towards you
Gentle treat-taking
Loose muscles
Normal breathing
Sniffing between repetitions
Voluntary check-ins
Ability to move away
Faster recovery
Reduced reaction intensity over time

Progress should not be measured only by moving closer.

A dog remaining calm at the same distance with faster recovery may be making meaningful progress.

Keep a LAT Training Diary

Record:

Trigger
Starting distance
Environment
Number of successful repetitions
Body language
Whether food was accepted
Reaction intensity
Recovery time
Unexpected stressors
Distance used at the next session

Video can be useful when recorded safely, but never provoke a reaction for footage.

Common LAT Mistakes

Starting Too Close

Distance is the foundation of successful LAT training.

Waiting for Eye Contact Before Marking

Mark the glance at the trigger. The marker should prompt the turn back for the reward.

Waiting Until Barking Starts

LAT is designed for calm observation below threshold.

Forcing the Dog to Look

Allow noticing to happen naturally. Do not point the dog’s head towards the trigger.

Luring the Dog Closer

Food should not pressure a frightened dog into an unsafe distance.

Using Low-Value Rewards

The reward must be meaningful enough for the environment.

Moving Closer After One Good Repetition

A single success does not prove the dog is ready for a harder setup.

Practising for Too Long

Fatigue and trigger stacking can turn a successful session into a reaction.

Punishing Mistakes

Leash jerks, yelling and other corrections can create additional negative associations with the trigger.

Treating LAT as a Complete Behaviour Plan

LAT is one tool. Medical assessment, management, enrichment, medication and professional guidance may also be needed.

Why Punishment Is Particularly Risky

Punishing a dog while they are looking at a trigger may cause them to associate that person, dog or object with pain or fear.

Avoid:

Shock collars
Prong collars
Choke chains
Leash corrections
Yelling
Forced exposure
Intimidation
Spraying water

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based methods for both training and behaviour modification. Read the AVSAB humane dog-training position statement.

When LAT Is Not Enough

LAT may be inappropriate or insufficient when:

The dog has a serious bite history
Triggers cannot be controlled safely
The dog remains over threshold at very large distances
Reactivity is associated with pain
Predatory behaviour is involved
The dog redirects onto the handler
The dog cannot recover after exposure
Separation anxiety is the primary problem
Compulsive behaviour is suspected
Quality of life is significantly affected

These cases require an individual plan from a veterinarian and qualified behaviour professional.

Medication may be appropriate when anxiety is severe enough to interfere with normal life or learning. Medication must be selected and prescribed by a veterinarian.

Finding Qualified Behaviour Support

Look for professionals who:

Use reward-based methods
Explain their techniques clearly
Avoid shock, prong and choke collars
Recognise stress and threshold
Work collaboratively with veterinarians
Have experience with reactivity and aggression
Do not guarantee that a dog will never react again
Prioritise safety and welfare

Dogs Trust recommends increasing distance and allowing a worried dog to move away rather than forcing interaction. Read the Dogs Trust stress and frustration guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my dog have to look back at me?

No. Mark the glance at the trigger and deliver the reward near you. Turning back often develops because the marker predicts food.

Do I need a mat?

No. A mat may help some dogs settle, but LAT can be practised while standing, walking or sitting.

Do I need a cone?

No. A cone can be useful as a predictable landmark during controlled setups, but it is not essential.

Should I say “look at that” every time?

Not initially. Begin by marking spontaneous glances. Add a verbal cue later if it is useful.

Can I use LAT for dog aggression?

It may be one component of a professional treatment plan. Dogs with a bite history or severe aggression require individual safety guidance.

How close should we be?

Far enough that your dog can notice the trigger, eat comfortably, turn away and remain physically loose.

Why does my dog take treats roughly?

Rough treat-taking may indicate rising arousal. Increase distance, lower the difficulty or end the session.

Can LAT teach my dog to greet other dogs?

LAT teaches calm observation and disengagement. It does not teach safe direct greetings, and many dogs do not need to greet unfamiliar dogs.

How long does LAT take to work?

Some dogs show changes within several sessions, while others need weeks or months. Progress depends on the cause, severity, trigger history, environment and consistency of management.

What if an uncontrolled dog approaches?

Do not continue LAT. Leave, use a barrier, call for the other owner to collect their dog and prioritise distance and safety.

Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

LAT gives reactive dogs a structured way to notice the world without being forced to ignore it or confront it.

The key is not the clicker, the cue or the cheese. It is working at a distance where your dog still feels safe enough to think.

Mark the glance, reward the turn and leave before the situation becomes too difficult. That is how a trigger can gradually become information instead of an immediate crisis.

Get Personalised Reactivity Support With ASK A VET™

If your dog barks, freezes, growls or lunges at people, animals, vehicles or unfamiliar objects, ASK A VET™ can help you understand what may be driving the reaction.

The ASK A VET™ team can help you:

Review your dog’s triggers and reaction history
Consider possible pain or medical contributors
Interpret body-language and threshold signals
Plan a safer starting distance
Improve LAT marker and reward timing
Track progress and recovery
Build an environmental management plan
Decide when medication or specialist behaviour support may be needed

If there is an immediate risk of a bite or injury, separate everyone safely and contact a local veterinarian or qualified behaviour professional.

For non-emergency guidance, visit AskAVet.com and start building safer, calmer responses one well-timed glance at a time.

Know how they are, wherever they are

The ASK A VET™ Tracker logs live location and activity trends, so a change in routine never goes unnoticed.

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About the author

Dr Duncan Houston

Veterinarian · Founder of ASK A VET

Every ASK A VET article is written and reviewed by qualified veterinarians.

About Dr. Duncan →drduncanthevet

Look at That Training for Reactive Dogs: A Step-by-Step LAT Guide