An important life skill, as well as a valuable means of improving your connection, is ensuring your dog creates a habit of checking in with you. The aim is that your dog looks to you for guidance and direction, that they know they can trust you to offer support if they’re unsure of what to do.Fill your pockets with kibble or healthy treats and head to a small enclosed area where you can hang out with your dog.When your dog turns to look at you, praise this immediately and throw a treat away from you. They’ll find the treat (a fun game in its own right!) and when they’re ready, they’ll look at you again. Repeat, repeat, repeat.Your dog will become quicker at looking at you and will be less distracted by their environment, but without taking the enjoyment of exploring away from them or being on their case with cues when they’re trying to have a sniff and enjoy their freedom.As your dog checks in more regularly, you can gradually increase the size of the enclosed area, increase the distractions and keep practising while your dog is on a harness and long-line in an open space, until you’re ready with reliable recall and your dog can go off-lead.This is something that you can reward when you’re not playing the game, it’s something that’s worth reinforcing regularly as it’s important your dog checks in when you’re out and about.