Concept Training Explained: Disengagement aka That's None of My Business

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too! This week, we’re continuing our new series of episodes exploring what concept training actually is and how it shows up in real life with your dog. We’ll be taking concepts you may have heard us talk about before, breaking them down, and making them practical, relatable, and easy to spot in your own training sessions and day-to-day interactions with your dog. This time, Lauren is joined by the amazing Sam to explore one of the most important - and often overlooked - skills in dog training: disengagement. Ever felt your dog vanish into a distraction - locked on a squirrel, snout glued to fox scent, or bee-lining toward a picnic? Listen in as we chat about the missing skill that is at the root of all those struggles: disengagement - the ability to turn away from temptation and choose you instead. Using simple, relatable analogies - like the cake you keep nibbling or the spider you can’t stop thinking about - we show how fixation works in both humans and dogs, then translate that into practical training you can start today. Lauren and Sam consider why some dogs struggle more, whether it’s lack of education or innate wiring, and how to meet each dog where they’re at. Sam also shares one of her all time favourite games - Disengagement Pattern - a clear, repeatable game that pays your dog generously for orienting back to you. Toss one treat toward mild interest, then deliver a small jackpot for the turn-away to anchor a new value system: outside temptations are single coins; you are the bank. We explain how to adapt reinforcement - by amount or quality - to keep the contrast clear without overfeeding, and how to manage distance like a volume dial so your dog can think rather than tip into frenzy. From pheasants bursting from hedges to food scraps in city parks, we chat real-life scenarios and show how to reset, create space, and reinforce better choices. You’ll hear how to chain quick wins, when to pivot to other games, and how practice at home makes walks smoother and calmer. This is a blueprint for building recall-like reliability without constant cueing, because the best behaviour is the one your dog chooses. Ready to try it yourself? Grab the £1 Games Club trial, explore guided tracks, and borrow the confidence of a community that’s solved the same struggles. Support the show If you’re loving the podcast, you’ll love our NEW Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge even more! Get transformational dog training today for only £27! Want even more epic dog training fun and games and solutions to all your dog training struggles? Join us in the AbsoluteDogs Games Club ! Want to take your learning to the next level? Jump into the games-based training membership for passionate dog owners and aspiring trainers that know they want more for themselves and their dog - Pro Dog Trainer Club! And while you’re here, please leave a review for us and don’t forget to hit share and post your biggest lightbulb moment! Remember, no matter what struggles you might be facing with your dog, there is always a game for that!

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Concept Training Explained: Disengagement aka That's None of My Business is an episode from Sexier Than A Squirrel: Dog Training That Gets Real Life Results by absoluteDogs.

This episode is 11:25 long.

This episode was published on Feb 24, 2026.

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