For the noob, Awareness is a real head-ful. Awareness is more like listening than looking, and it is that state from which all of our Attention Springs - right from the Ground of our perceptual field. Boom! There’s an Opportuntiy!
Attention is hardwired into working with dogs, and it is an absolutely amazing and critical skill, but it’s a Skill, not a behavior. Attention as a behavior alone can be trouble when it comes to identifying Opportunities, following the handler, and engagement in general.
Awareness is the seat of our Attention, and Attention is the foil of Awareness. Awareness is our read, it discloses relevant information and if we’re paying too much attention to what we’re doing or are unaware of what’s happening the critical information slides transparently by; you and the dog.