Okay this will take training, but it works....
What we did with our boarder collie was to give him a fresh cow bone as a reward for coming, sitting, whatever. Then allow him to clean it completely - this doesn't take long
Now the bone acts like a Binky, and a signal to pay attention - here's how we did it.
Whenever the dog was spazing out we would say "get your bone, get your bone" in an excited, hyper voice - and wait on the dog to do so. Once he had his bone we would say good dog and pat him adding sit, stay or whatever. Now he always has a cleaned bone in his mouth when he is 'on duty' (in his mind). The on duty state is very focused and listening for commands. He sleeps with his bone near, ever ready to pick it up and report for duty. If he is freaking out we just say get your bone and then sit or down to signal the wait for instructions posture. Once he has his bone he is clam and ready, alert and watching for a command.
All this happen by necessity and accident, I started giving him the bones so he wouldn't dig or chew anything, and they worked great - a puppy who never chewed anything but his bones! My slippers are forever grateful.
As time has passed he has learned words (its just annoying as when a child does) now if someone says
chicken (ooops) the dog takes off running for his bone, gets it and stands at attention at the back door. If we don't move, and we don't, he looks at the
chicken area and back at us - keeps repeating and then finally drops down to the floor to watch the up-to-no-good critters, he's on duty don't you know.
Logan and Bone
