If you do a Google search on how to counter condition reactive behaviors on leash, it spits out a simplified version of the process. Use super high value treats, make sure your dog is under threshold, feed your dog when they notice another dog, and with time you'll change your dog's emotional state from a negative one to a positive one. Sounds great, right! So then why is it that some people will do this for years, and not get that result? Is it possible that people just don't hav...

Dog trainers - ever wonder if you could be serving your clients better? In this episode I wanted to zoom out and look at dog training from the lens of the services we are providing for our clients, and how we can get better outcomes. I bring in Jeff Silverman from Training Tracks in Cincinnati, Ohio to unpack: How to build rapport with clients from the beginningWhy having a variety of services is necessary to meet your client's needs more effectivelyCreating clarity around the role of t...

BLACK FRIDAY SALE for dog professionals! From now until 12/5. Get $75 off the self study or $250 off the private: Reactivity Refined Course and Mentorship. Herding breeds are special dogs. Highly intelligent, sensitive, and with a die hard work ethic, they aren't designed for pet dog homes. What one might think of as reactivity in a herding breed, someone else might see natural behaviors we have bred them for. Why is it that herding breeds tend to display reactive behaviors more than ot...

Why is it that some dogs enter a new home and begin to develop reactivity, seemingly out of nowhere? This often comes as a surprise to their new families, who weren't expecting to dive into a life with a reactive dog. In this episode, I bring in Tom Candy to help unpack what is going on in these scenarios. We discuss: What the general public doesn't know about the animal sheltering world What contributes to a dog's behavior changing in a new homeHow to actively prevent reactivity from de...

Muzzles are stigmatized, because they are often associated with dogs who are aggressive. But the truth is, dogs wear muzzles for many reasons. Muzzles can give dogs more freedom, humans more peace of mind, and a safer community for all to live in. In this episode, I talk with Amy Creaven, owner of Trust Your Dog, a company that makes custom biothane products to expand your dog's world. We dive into all aspects of muzzles and training including: How to ensure your muzzle is bite proofMuz...

I help both pet parents and dog professionals successfully address leash reactivity by asking the right questions, uncover what’s missing, and build solutions tailored to their unique needs. Imagine being a dog walker for reactive dogs in one of the densest cities in the United States - San Francisco. And then, imagine walking those dogs on 10-20 foot leashes. How do you balance giving a reactive dog the choice to move away from things that worry them, while also keeping th...

Join the leash reactivity mentorship starting this September 7th. Spots are going quickly! Reactive dogs face a lot of stressors in their daily lives, and for many, their ability to "bounce back" gets worse with time. What is resilience? What is going on when a dog's resilience is low? How can you help condition your dog to increase their resilience? In this episode I talk with Bobbie Bhambree CDBC, CPDT-KA on her and Dr. Kathy Murphy's Reframing Resilience framework. We cover: The ne...

What is going on when a dog can stay responsive on their walk, UNTIL another dog comes around? I'm back with another solo episode, where I break down this scenario and help you better understand why your dog cannot respond to you, and what you can do about it. I cover: Proofing behaviors and why you probably haven't prepared your dog as much as you think you haveHow to be more effective at teaching your dog to respond to you around distractionsHow to understand the criteria you are setting, a...

Follow the Rethinking Reactivity Podcast on FB and IG and join me for behind the scenes content, resources on how to help reactive dogs, and more! Sign up for the leash reactivity mentorship for professionals that begins September 7th. Imagine a world where the average dog is healthy - both physically and behaviorally, for the majority of their lives. Imagine a world where shelters aren't overflowing with dogs because there are plenty of suitable homes for them. Imagine a world where it...

Follow the Rethinking Reactivity Podcast on FB and IG and join me for behind the scenes content, resources on how to help reactive dogs, and more! Join the waitlist for the leash reactivity mentorship and be the first to know when registration opens AND get $50 off. Thresholds are a concept, not something concrete, so it can be difficult to have a consensus as to what they actually are. To make this even more confusing, there are many types of thresholds that a dog can cross. In this ...

Follow the Rethinking Reactivity Podcast on FB and IG Join the waitlist for the leash reactivity mentorship and be the first to know when registration opens AND get $50 off. What happens when you get two behavior consultants and long time friends talking dogs, behavior, and life? In this episode, I talk with Michael Shikashio CDBC on a wide range of topics, while getting a bit philosophical along the way. Hear us discuss: How he differentiates reactivity and aggressionThresholds in beha...

There are very few people who purposefully seek out a reactive dog to bring into their home - for most people, they find themselves in that scenario unexpectedly. And so their journey begins, seeking help for them and their dog, while trying to navigate a wide range of emotions about their situation. In today's episode, I bring in a client I worked closely with, to get her perspective on life with her reactive dog and what that journey was like, including the time we spent together.&nbs...

Utilizing set ups with an assistant and a helper dog, rather than relying on dogs from the general public, can be a critical component for many reactive dogs and their progress. In this episode I discuss: What set ups are What you need to execute a set up successfully5 common mistakes to avoid when executing set upsHow to know when a dog is ready to move beyond set ups and into real life applications Q&A from listenersResources: The 3 Ds in dog training articles: Blog by ...

The notion of pet dogs being captive dogs is sure to stir up some emotions. But the truth is, the lifestyle of your average pet dog in the U.S. has changed dramatically over the past few decades, and this hasn't been a long enough time for our dogs to adjust. Could this help explain why there are so many dogs with behavior challenges these days? In this episode, I bring in Kim Brophey FDM, CDBC, CPDT-KA to discuss how our modern lifestyles aren't matching up to the needs of our dogs.&nb...

The term reactivity is a label, that is used to describe a variety of behaviors. And because it's a label, your definition of reactivity is likely different from someone else's. In this episode, I bring in Laurie Lawless CDBC, CPDT-KA to discuss what reactivity means to each of us, with both pet dogs and shelter dogs. We also unpack the term by discussing: What behaviors are commonly described as reactiveWhy it's so important to look beyond labels for dogs and understand them as individ...

If you have a dog who is reactive on leash, you may have wondered if they were feeling frustrated. And you're probably right - frustration is often a big component for dogs who are displaying leash reactivity. But what exactly is frustration, and what is going on inside of a dog's body while they're experiencing it? What can we do to help dogs cope better with frustration? In this episode I bring in Daniel Shaw, MSc CDBC to unpack the neurobiology of frustration. We discuss: What neuros...