Rethinking Reactivity

Katrina wrote a really fantastic blog post called Why You Should Run From Engage/Disengage . Quick caveat, it's not because she doesn't like the protocol.  In this episode, Katrina and I discuss: Contingencies in training - what they are and how to analyze them How the execution of open bar/closed bar and engage/disengage can actually create unintended consequences for reactive dogs How...

We're starting this new season with a discussion on ACE Freework. ACE stands for Animal Centered Education , and it was started by Sarah Fisher. Sadly, Sarah is no longer with us, but I know how much her work has meant to people and how impactful it has been for dogs, and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to talk about it. We're joined by the lovely Kim Palermo, who helps us brea...

Join the leash reactivity mentorship starting March 22nd This episode is all about dogs that bark/lunge/growl at strangers, both on walks and inside the home. Lisa and I discuss: The difference between reactivity and aggression How to help dogs with stranger directed aggression acclimate to new people Why "first impressions" are so important for these cases How to tell if the dog is actu...

Get on the waitlist for the next leash reactivity mentorship! Washington area folks – sign up for the seminar with Micaela and Mercedes here ! Find the resource links mentioned in this episode here. Behavior issues in dogs are almost always symptoms of other underlying issues. So when we focus only on the behavior issue itself, we’re missing the bigger picture, often excluding interventions that w...

Join me & Dan  LIVE for a 2 day reactive dog workshop in Livermore, CA from February 14th-15th. Learn more and sign up here .  Join the waitlist for the March 15th cohort for the Leash Reactivity Mentorship for Professionals AND get $50 off.  If you have a reactive dog and you're out in the real world with them, it might feel like you are walking through a minefield. You have to keep trac...

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 p...

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 beginning Why having a variety of services i...

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...

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...

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 d...

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 react...

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 Bob...

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 have How to be more effective...

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 is the norm to live with a dog who goes through l...

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.  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 e...

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...

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 lif...

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 successfully 5 common mistakes to avoid when executing set ups How to know when a dog is ready to move beyond set ups and into real life appli...

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, C...

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 de...

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...