🎯 “Give Me a Break”: Vet-Backed Pattern Game to Refocus Dogs in 2025 🐾

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Does your dog bark at people outside the window or lunge at distractions during walks? Teaching them to disengage can be life-changing. “Give Me a Break” is a pattern game that creates structure and predictability in triggering environments. In this 2025 guide, learn how to use this game to build your dog’s focus, reduce barking, and create a stronger bond—all through simple, treat-based play. 🐶🎁

🧠 What Is “Give Me a Break”?

This pattern game teaches your dog to notice a distraction (like someone knocking or a dog walking past) and then turn back to you for guidance. Instead of reacting, they learn a predictable routine that ends in a reward—and a calm response. 📉

The cue isn’t a word—it’s a context. A knock at the door or movement at the window becomes a signal to find their person, not to bark or jump. 🪟🚪

🪑 Chair Version (Start Here!)

This version introduces your dog to the game with structure and clarity.

What You’ll Need:

• 🪑 A chair or stool
• 🍖 High-value treats

How to Play:

1. Sit on a chair in a quiet room.
2. Stand up, walk a few feet away, and place a treat on the ground.
3. As your dog eats the treat, return to the chair and sit.
4. When your dog comes back to you, immediately stand up and repeat the process.
5. Repeat this about 10 times, using short sessions.

This pattern becomes predictable and fun. Your dog begins to anticipate coming back to you as the next “step” in the game. 🎮🐾

🚶 Handler-Moving Version

Once your dog understands the basics, remove the chair and make it more dynamic!

How to Play:

1. Walk away and place a treat down.
2. Turn your back and walk a few steps to a new location.
3. Let your dog find you. When they return, drop a new treat elsewhere and move again.

Practice Tips:

• 🏡 Start indoors, then try it outside in a fenced yard or on a long leash.
• 🌳 Use near distractions like fences, barking neighbors, or windows.
• 🕒 Keep sessions short (about 10 treats per game).
• 🎯 Stop while your dog is still having fun.

🧭 When to Use This Game

• 🚪 Reactivity to doorbells or knocks
• 🐕 Barking at dogs through fences
• 🪟 Lunging at people or animals outside windows
• 🏞️ Building off-leash focus in safe areas

💡 Bonus Uses

As your dog progresses, this game becomes more than a training tool—it’s a life skill. Try it:

• 🎓 To teach calm leash behavior
• 🧘 To lower arousal before greeting new people
• 🧠 For dogs who need to build focus in high-distraction environments

📌 Tips for Success

• 🎯 Let your dog choose to engage—never force them
• 🧘 If your dog struggles, return to an easier environment
• 🎾 Use treats your dog loves!
• 🚫 Only offer one treat at a time, in a consistent pattern

📘 Pattern Games and Control Unleashed®

“Give Me a Break” is part of a larger family of pattern games featured in the Control Unleashed® series by Leslie McDevitt. These games use repetition and predictability to help dogs feel safe, confident, and in control—especially in triggering environments. 🎓🐾

📝 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Whether you’re dealing with barking, reactivity, or just want a reliable way to engage your dog, “Give Me a Break” offers a clear, gentle, and enjoyable path forward. It teaches your dog to check in with you, builds trust, and strengthens your bond—all through play. 🐕💛

Want support adapting this game for your dog? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📱 to connect with vet behavior experts ready to help with personalized advice. 🦴🎯