Stop Trying to Be the Bigger Squirrel: Why Your Dog Chooses the Environment Over You
Have you ever found yourself in that moment?
You know the one.
You’re out on a walk, your dog sees another dog (or a squirrel, or a very interesting leaf) just over the hill, and you feel that familiar sinking feeling in your gut. Oh no, it’s about to happen.
You start frantically grabbing for your treats. You wiggle the chicken. You make those weird high-pitched clicking noises. Maybe you even do a little dance.
And your dog? They don’t even look at you.
You could be wearing a suit made of prime rib, dripping with au jus, and you’d get absolutely nothing. Zip. Nada. Crickets.
If they do happen to glance back, it’s usually with a look that says, "Sorry, I’m busy."
I’ve been there. I’ve lived it. And today, I want to talk about one of the biggest myths in the dog training world: The idea that you need to be the "Bigger Squirrel."
The "Bigger Squirrel" Myth
We’ve all heard the advice. "Be more rewarding! Be more exciting! Use higher-value treats!"
It sounds great on paper until you’re actually standing in the woods trying to out-squirrel a real squirrel.
I’ve heard of people making homemade tuna brownies, bless their hearts, just to get a second of attention. My friend Sharon made them once and I told her, "Thanks for ruining brownies for me forever." 🐟🍫
The problem is that we’re asking to compete with an environment that has thousands of years of evolution on its side.
On the surface, "being the bigger squirrel" makes sense. But when your dog is halfway up a tree and you’re standing at the bottom yelling, "Look at my cookie!"... well, it’s a bit ridiculous, isn’t it?
The Apollo Saga: 19 Dogs and a School Bus
If you’re new here, let me introduce you to the dog who taught me the most about this: Apollo.
Apollo was a Greyhound-Pit Bull mix. Picture the lean, muscular body of a Greyhound with a Pit Bull head. I used to joke that if you ever thought you could outrun a Pit Bull, with Apollo, you definitely couldn’t.
He was my "right-brain extrovert", constantly in instinct, constantly scanning the environment.
Back when the Franken family moved from Ontario to Nova Scotia, we had a bit of a logistics problem. We were moving a whole farm, horses and all. Two weeks before the move, we realized we had no way to transport 19 dogs.
So, naturally, we bought a school bus. 🚌
We ripped out the seats, put in crates, and traveled like the Partridge Family meets the Beverly Hillbillies across two provinces.
The day after we arrived, exhausted and sleep-deprived, I decided to take Apollo and a couple of my older, calmer dogs (the "noobs") up the big hill behind our new house.
I thought, "There’s nothing up here. I'll let him off the leash to stretch his legs."
Mistake number one.
The "Creepy Head Turn"
The moment before the "slow-motion head turn"—Apollo spotting the 15 deer in the field behind our new house.
We came over the crest of the hill and there they were: 15 deer. Just grazing peacefully.
I saw Apollo freeze. He became a statue, leaning forward, every muscle in his back legs quivering with adrenaline.
I didn't have a single cookie on me. I had nothing.
I said his name, softly at first. "Apollo."
He turned his head. His body stayed perfectly still, pointing like a compass at those deer, but his head turned back to look at me in what I can only describe as slow motion.
It was the most honest look a dog has ever given me. It said:
"I am so sorry, but this is happening." 🦌💨
And then? He shot out like a rocket.
And then... he was gone. Apollo demonstrating that Greyhound-Pit Bull speed.
I did the stupid human thing. I started screaming his name at the top of my lungs. If my new neighbors didn't already think I was unstable because of the dog bus, they definitely did now.
Curiosity: A Feature, Not a Bug
Here’s the thing we often miss: Dogs are supposed to notice the environment.
They are built to investigate, to gather information, and to be curious. The squirrel isn't the problem. The deer aren't the problem. The smells aren't the problem.
Curiosity is normal.
When we try to "be the bigger squirrel," we are essentially telling our dogs, "Stop being who you are, and for your troubles, here’s a processed piece of dried-up liver."
It doesn’t work because we are interrupting their essence.
Instead of constantly pulling them away from their world, what if we started joining them in it?
How to "Follow the Dog"
Instead of competing with the environment, I want to invite you to become a partner in it. This is an exercise I call Follow the Dog. 🐾
Imagine if you stopped being the "treat dispenser" and started being the "co-explorer."
The Rules of Engagement:
Safety First: Use a long line (15-20 feet) and a comfortable harness. We want the dog to feel zero leash pressure.
No Training: This isn't about "heel" or "sit." This is about letting the dog take the lead.
Get Weird: If your dog sniffs a rock, go look at the rock. If they're interested in a tree stump, go check out the stump.
How to do it (Step-by-Step):
Notice what they notice. If your dog stops to sniff a patch of grass, don't just stand there checking your phone. Walk over.
Use your "Opposable Thumb" Power. This is my favorite part. If your dog is trying to get under a log, roll the log over for them. Use your strength to help them find what they’re looking for.
Mark the Interest. When you see them find something cool, sweep your hand toward it and say, "What did you find? Check it out!"
Be the Value. By helping them access the things they find interesting, you become the most valuable partner in the woods.
Are you worried people will think you're crazy for digging in the dirt with your dog?
Maybe they will. But your dog will finally think, "Oh my gosh, she finally gets it! She smells what I smell!"
Pure trust and freedom: Apollo and his pack mate enjoying a balanced partnership in nature at sunset.
Partnership Over Position
Walking beside you is a position. It can be trained with treats and repetitions.
Walking with you is a relationship. It is built through shared experiences and trust.
The reason dogs disconnect from us in the environment is often because we disconnected from the environment first. We stopped asking what they were smelling. We stopped being curious.
When you start showing up as a partner, everything changes.
You don’t have to outrun the deer or climb the tree. You just have to be the person who notices that the deer and the trees are awesome.
Are You Ready to Get Weird?
If you’ve felt like there has to be more than just "click, treat, repeat"...
If you’re tired of managing behaviors and want to start understanding the soul at the other end of the leash...
I want to invite you into The Fearless Framework.
This is my 12-month coaching journey where we stop chasing techniques and start building deep, unbreakable trust. It’s for the dog lovers who know their "spicy" dogs have the most to teach them.
Come check out the Fearless Framework here.
Let’s walk this journey together. 👣
You Are Enough
At the end of the day, I don't want my dogs to ignore the world. I want them to experience it with me.
There is nothing more magical than a dog who is excited to explore, but turns back every few feet as if to say, "Are you coming? Let's go do this together!"
Go out there today. Join their world. It’s the only one that makes sense right now anyway.
Be the person your dog thinks you are. Because your dog thinks you are amazing.
And so do I.
If this story hit home, you can also listen to the Beyond Obedience podcast here or find it on Apple Podcasts.
Warmly,
Tracy 🐾