How to Play the Give Me a Break Pattern Game with Your Dog

Teach your dog to choose calm over reactivity. 👉CHECK OUT my Dog Training and Behaviour Modification Principles online course! https://www.udemy.com/course/dog-training-and-behaviour-modification-principles/?referralCode=08986FDD9828949ACBBC If you want to [SUPPORT] the work that I do here, an easy way to do so is to buy me a coffee (or a few coffees) using this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/trainmeplease You can contact me using the following email: [email protected] Does your dog bark at the window, lunge on the leash, or struggle to disengage from distractions? Discover "Give Me a Break," a powerful pattern game that teaches your dog a simple, default life skill. Instead of reacting, they learn to make the choice to calmly check in with you, building their confidence and reducing frustration in challenging situations. In this tutorial, we break down the entire process into two easy-to-follow phases. You'll start with a simple chair setup to build a solid foundation and then transition to a moving version that you can use in real-world scenarios. We'll guide you through each step, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to gradually layer in distractions for lasting results. 0:00 – Why This Pattern Game Works 1:40 – Chair Version: Teaching the Core Pattern 3:04 – Moving Version: Becoming the Beacon 4:03 – Adding Distractions & Safety Tips 5:13 – Common Pitfalls & Final Recap Reference Brehaut, H. (2025, March 27). Give Me a Break. CattleDog Publishing. Retrieved from https://cattledogpublishing.com/blog/give-me-a-break/?srsltid=AfmBOooAKtvyPymu-gfd2yeljlXweDvtfT_qwVf274XtYEv0AJqehJ0n Leslie McDevitt photo reference: tawzerdog, 2016. Leslie McDevitt. [image] Available at: https://www.tawzerdog.com/authors/author-A8M9tswqOlk [Accessed 21 April 2022]. This is the book I would recommend for most people: Control Unleashed: Reactive to Relaxed by Leslie McDevitt (Affiliate) https://amzn.to/38S8KVX If you have a puppy, I would recommend this one instead: Control Unleashed - The Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt (Affiliate) https://amzn.to/3Ew3bsg If you are interested in the original fabulous book that introduced us all to these amazing concepts, this is the original one: Control Unleashed - Creating A Focused and Confident Dog by Leslie McDevitt (Affiliate) https://amzn.to/3xAKiCX For a fantastic collection of all of the best dog training books go here (Affiliate) https://www.dogwise.com/?aff=477 You can find a fantastic video presentation by Leslie McDevitt about the Look At That Game here https://youtu.be/cW_WLETEmNM Some of my favourite dog training gear (Affiliate) Baby gate: https://amzn.to/3y1iCHC Dog exercise pen: https://amzn.to/37Tt612 Kong Extreme: https://amzn.to/3LKjWCw Kong for small dogs or puppies: https://amzn.to/3F0mxG9 Kong wobbler: https://amzn.to/38EptfB Dog training treat bag (traditional): https://amzn.to/3vsttsq Dog training treat bag (for wet treats): https://thetrainerspouch.com/?ref=TRAIN Harness: https://amzn.to/3MFm6Dz Dual ended lead (perfect for the above harness): https://amzn.to/39tRDu6 Long leash: https://amzn.to/3FaBPrR Premium dog food: https://amzn.to/3vstIUm Training treats: https://amzn.to/3KqLYBT My filming and editing gear (Affiliate) Camera 1: https://amzn.to/3KqEuPa My favourite lens (the one used for A roll): https://amzn.to/3yapDpL My other favourite lens (the one used for B roll): https://amzn.to/3vwl2fN My favourite gimbal: https://amzn.to/3kp3XOx Camera 2: https://amzn.to/38FYEaz Lavalier microphone: https://amzn.to/372T2a9 USB microphone: https://amzn.to/3s5iWBs Lights: https://amzn.to/3KC0kz7 Editing laptop: https://amzn.to/3y4wSzb Tripod: https://amzn.to/3ONxD5P My online presence: Website: http://www.trainmeplease.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainMePlease Twitter: https://twitter.com/sealtrainer Linkedin: au.linkedin.com/in/josegomestmp Music by CreatorMix.com Disclaimers: Jose is not a Control Unleashed Certified Instructor. This video is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute advice that is tailored to you and your dog. I highly recommend that you get in contact with a progressive behaviour consultant to help you and your dog directly.