Log 002: The Look Mandurah Distraction Test.

Date: July 2026

Author: Wizard Leak Detection

Category: Project Echo / Training Logs

We’ve officially stepped out of the comfort zone of the living room.

Over the last fortnight, Echo and I have been hitting some of our favorite local spots—like the Mandurah Eastern Foreshore and Rushton Park—to put her basic obedience to the ultimate test: real-world distractions.

It’s one thing for a three-month-old puppy to hold a "Stay" when the only thing moving is the ceiling fan. It is a completely different story when there are low-flying seagulls, kids kicking a footy, and cyclists whizzing past.

The Challenge: The Aussie "Chase Reflex"

If you know anything about Australian Shepherds, you know they are born to herd. They are incredibly visual dogs, and their brains are hardwired to notice quick movements.

For Echo, a leaf blowing across the grass or a bird taking off looks like a direct invitation to bolt and round it up. On a quiet afternoon near the estuary, her eyes were locked onto everything that moved.

While that intense focus and high drive are exactly what will make her an incredible tracking dog later, right now, we have to teach her how to switch it off on command.

The Secret Weapon: The "Look at That" Game

To combat the urge to chase, we’ve been playing a training game called "Look at That."

The goal isn't to prevent Echo from noticing the distraction; it's to change her reaction to it. Every time a seagull lands near us, or a person jogs past, I watch her body language. The exact second she looks at the moving object but chooses to keep her paws on the ground instead of lunging, I mark the behavior and reward her with a high-value treat.

The Lesson: We are teaching her big Aussie brain a new rule: “When things move fast, don't chase it. Look at Dad for a reward instead.”

It takes massive patience, but she is catching on incredibly fast. We are already seeing those moments where she starts to twitch toward a distraction, catches herself, and looks right up at me with those mismatched eyes instead.

Why This Matters for Our Clients

You might wonder why a leak detection business cares so much about a puppy chasing birds at the park.

When we bring Echo onto a commercial property or into a family backyard in Mandurah, she needs to be a perfect professional. A customer might have a family cat that darts out from under a bush, or children playing in the yard. If Echo loses focus and bolts, it’s a safety risk for her and a disruption for the homeowner.

By proofing her impulse control right now, we are ensuring that when she eventually arrives at a job site, she is laser-focused only on the task at hand: finding the water leak.

What’s Next?

We are going to keep building up her focus in busy environments until her "Leave It" command is bulletproof. Next up, we’ll be taking her to some quieter, controlled commercial environments to introduce her to the actual sounds of our leak detection gear.

If you see us out practicing our focus around Mandurah, feel free to wave—just maybe wait until she's finished her "Stay" before you come over for a pat!

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