Calming Canines: The Power of Pattern Games for Fear and Reactivity

When working with fearful or reactive dogs, it’s easy to focus solely on behavior management—avoiding triggers, redirecting attention, or implementing obedience cues. But what if you could help your dog feel more confident and secure in the world instead of just “coping”?

That’s where pattern games come in.

Developed and popularized by trainer Leslie McDevitt (creator of the Control Unleashed program), pattern games are simple, structured activities that create predictability and calm. They’re a powerful tool in transforming a reactive or anxious dog’s experience—especially in unpredictable or overwhelming environments.

We previously wrote a blog about pattern games, but I am so passionate about this topic that I felt it warranted a more in-depth blog.

Why Pattern Games Work

Dogs who struggle with fear or reactivity often do so because they feel uncertain or unsafe. Pattern games help by:

✅ Providing structure and predictability: The world can feel chaotic for reactive dogs. A repetitive, predictable game gives them something reliable to focus on.

✅ Shifting focus away from triggers: Instead of hyper-focusing on the dog across the street or the loud truck nearby, your dog tunes into the game—and to you.

✅ Building confidence: As your dog learns the pattern, they begin to anticipate the next step, which boosts their confidence and ability to cope.

✅ Creating a safe communication channel: These games become a “language” that tells your dog, “We’re okay. I’ve got you.” They reduce the need for your dog to react to feel heard.

Examples of Pattern Games

1. The “Up-Down” Game

How it works:

• Say your dog’s name (or use a marker like “yes!”)

• Drop a treat to the ground.

• As they eat, get ready to mark and drop another.

• Repeat in a steady rhythm.

Why it helps: Your dog learns to look up at you (engagement) and then down (calming, foraging behavior). This rhythm becomes familiar and soothing, even when triggers are nearby. This game allows the dog to redirect their attention from the trigger and allows them to regulate their emotions through foraging.

2. “1-2-3 Treat!”

How it works:

• Walk with your dog on leash. Count aloud, “1… 2… 3!” and give a treat after each “3.”

• Repeat consistently.

• Start using it before your dog sees a trigger and continue as needed.

Why it helps: Your dog begins to predict when the treat will come, which makes the environment less overwhelming. It also encourages loose leash walking and attention to you.

3. “Look at That” (LAT)

How it works:

• Mark and reward your dog for looking at a trigger (e.g., dog, bike, person).

• Repeat until your dog starts to glance at the trigger, then back at you.

Why it helps: Rather than suppressing your dog’s reactions, you help them process what they see. The game teaches, “Looking is safe and earns you a reward.” Over time, the emotional charge around triggers decreases, while their engagement with you increases.

4. “Ping Pong” Recall

How it works:

• With two people, take turns calling your dog back and forth.

• Use enthusiastic recall cues and reward heavily.

Why it helps: It reinforces recall in a fun, fast-paced way and gives dogs a clear job when around distractions or in a high-arousal environment.

5. “See It, Get It” Game

How it works:

• Hold a toy (like a tug or ball) visibly in your hand.

• Let your dog see it, but don’t release it right away.

• Ask for calm behavior—such as a sit, eye contact, or relaxed posture.

• Once your dog offers the desired response, mark and release them to the toy.

Why it helps: This pattern game is perfect for super frustrated or highly toy-motivated dogs. It gives them a way to channel that energy productively and teaches them how to earn what they want through impulse control. You can then use this game around triggers and give an outlet to their frustration.

How to combine it:

• Pair it with “1-2-3 Treat!” by using the toy as the reward on “3.”

• Use it with “Look at That, Looked at Me”—mark when your dog disengages from a trigger and chooses to look at you, then release them for a game of tug or fetch.

Bonus: The toy acts as both reinforcement and emotional release, which is especially powerful for dogs who escalate quickly when they can’t access what they want (like other dogs, squirrels, or toys).

Final Thoughts

Pattern games are more than just fun exercises—they’re therapeutic routines that help fearful, reactive, and over-aroused dogs feel safe, confident, and understood. When used strategically, these games reduce reactivity, improve focus, and help dogs make better choices on their own.

If you’re struggling with your dog’s reactivity or anxiety, try adding a few pattern games into your daily routine. You’ll likely see a happier, more emotionally balanced dog—and a stronger bond between you.

Want help choosing the right pattern games for your dog? Reach out to us at Run Free K9 for customized training plans that build confidence through structure and play.