Who is Leslie McDevitt?
Leslie McDevitt is an accomplished dog trainer, behavior consultant, and author known for her innovative work in helping reactive dogs. She developed the Control Unleashed program to address challenges faced by dogs with anxiety, reactivity, or focus issues. Through her books and seminars, McDevitt has provided accessible, science-based strategies to build better communication and trust between dogs and their handlers.
Leslie McDevitt’s Pattern Games from Control Unleashed are carefully designed tools to help reactive dogs develop calmness, confidence, and engagement with their handler.
These games rely on predictable patterns that create a safe, structured environment for learning and emotional regulation. While they are particularly effective for reactive dogs, they also serve broader purposes, such as improving focus, fostering a stronger bond between dog and handler, and building engagement. The repetition and predictability of these games provide dogs with a sense of control over their environment, which is especially valuable for dogs that struggle with reactivity or anxiety. At the same time, they offer an excellent way for any dog to practice calm behavior and learn to thrive in a variety of settings.
Please Note: Your Happy Dog Coach is NOT a Controlled Unleashed Certified Trainer (yet). All of this information was found online and shared for information purposes, because we cannot have too many tools in our dog training toolbelts!
Credit for most infographics found here: Dog Crazy Lady – Pattern Games
The Pattern Games:
Ping Pong
“Ping-Pong” is one of Your Happy Dog Coach’s most used and favorite games for anyone to play with their dog. It’s so simple, it seems like you’re not doing anything at all, yet it is so beneficial.
It involves tossing treats alternately to different sides of your dog, encouraging them to move in a relaxed and predictable manner. This movement-based pattern helps reactive dogs release tension and reorient in stressful situations.
For other dogs, it’s an excellent way to practice movement and focus while reinforcing a fun, positive interaction.
But my number one reason to play it is that it builds the bond and relationship between a dog and their human… and anyone, of any ability and age, can play this game with their dog.
The Up-Down Game
Another incredibly simple, yet unbelievably efficient game that involves simply tossing a treat on the ground. Your dog looks for it and when they eat it, you mark with a verbal cue or click, and then deliver another treat at your eye level.
This ridiculously simple back-and-forth pattern encourages your dog to shift their focus between the ground and you.
For reactive dogs, it helps them practice staying grounded while orienting back to their handler.
For all dogs, it’s a great way to build attention and connection, especially in distracting environments.
Again, it’s something that any person, at any age and ability can do, to help build that engagement and reinforce the bond and relationship between a dog and their human.
The 1-2-3 Game
The “1-2-3 Game” is also simple but powerful. You count aloud “one, two, three” in a consistent rhythm, and after saying “three,” you deliver a treat to your dog. This game teaches dogs to focus on your voice and predict the positive outcome of listening.
For reactive dogs, it helps redirect their attention from triggers back to the handler, creating a positive association with being near you.
For other dogs, it’s a fun way to build engagement and practice walking calmly.
Voluntary 1-2-3 Game
The “1-2-3 Game” is also simple but powerful. You count aloud “one, two, three” in a consistent rhythm, and after saying “three,” you deliver a treat to your dog. This game teaches dogs to focus on your voice and predict the positive outcome of listening.
For reactive dogs, it helps redirect their attention from triggers back to the handler, creating a positive association with being near you.
For other dogs, it’s a fun way to build engagement and practice walking calmly.
Whiplash Game
This is a great skill for any dog to have as it is used to practice turning and walking away from a potential trigger in a smooth, reinforcing manner. This is especially useful when you see an unknown off-leash dog in the distance.
You call your dog’s name or use a verbal cue, turn in the opposite direction, and reward them for following you.
This game is helpful for reactive dogs who need a quick escape strategy, but it’s equally useful for teaching leash manners and improving overall responsiveness in any dog.
SuperBowls
“Super Bowls” involves placing two or more bowls in a predictable layout and rewarding your dog for moving calmly between them.
This game provides structure and clarity, which is particularly helpful for reactive dogs learning to navigate new environments.
For other dogs, it’s a fun and engaging way to practice cues and build focus.
Look At That
“Look at That” (LAT) is a foundational game where you teach your dog to notice a trigger or an interesting object and then look back at you for a treat. By marking and rewarding this behavior, your dog learns to associate the trigger with something positive. This game transforms triggers from stressors to cues for reinforcement. While it’s invaluable for reactive dogs, it’s also a wonderful game for teaching focus and impulse control in non-reactive dogs.
“Look At That” has it’s own entry in the Skills Learning Library. Please find the link below:
LATTE
LATTE – Look At That, Then Enrichment is a creative twist on her popular “Look At That” (LAT) game, designed to build focus, confidence, and engagement while reducing stress in dogs. In LATTE, your dog is encouraged to observe a trigger or distraction at a comfortable distance. When they notice it, you mark and reward their calm behavior, then immediately shift their focus to an enjoyable enrichment activity, such as sniffing, foraging, or playing with a toy.
This approach not only helps dogs associate triggers with positive experiences but also encourages them to self-regulate by engaging in natural, stress-relieving behaviors.
LATTE is beneficial for all dogs, whether they’re reactive, shy, or simply learning to navigate the world, as it nurtures trust, deepens the bond between dog and handler, and makes training a rewarding, low-pressure experience.