27/09/2026
🐾 Does everything change when your dog spots another dog?
For Margaux, seeing another dog on a walk could quickly become overwhelming. She would react on the lead, struggled with engagement and wouldn’t even take food while out walking.
Fast forward to our trained reactivity walk this week, and we’re starting to see some really lovely changes. ❤️
Margaux is now able to calmly sniff and explore on her long line with dogs in the distance. She can notice another dog, watch them and then naturally disengage, all while working at a distance where she feels safe and remains below threshold.
One of the biggest changes has been her engagement. Because Margaux previously wouldn’t take food on walks, we’ve spent time building her motivation for food outside. She’s now able to take rewards and engage while dogs are present, giving us another tool to reinforce those calm choices and voluntary check-ins.
And this is such an important part of reactivity training: progress doesn’t mean getting your dog as close to another dog as possible.
We create enough distance for the dog to feel safe, give them opportunities to sniff and process their environment, and gradually expose them to their triggers without pushing them beyond what they can cope with. As their confidence and skills develop, we can begin reducing that distance at their pace.
There is still more work to do with Margaux, but I’m incredibly proud of the progress she’s making. 🥰🐾
If walks with your dog currently feel stressful, you’re constantly scanning for other dogs, changing direction or worrying about the next reaction, you don’t have to wait for things to get worse before asking for help.
I specialise in working with reactive dogs through 1-1, force-free training across Norfolk & Suffolk, creating a plan around the individual dog rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
📩 If Margaux’s story feels familiar, get in touch to have a chat about how I could help you and your dog.
Danielle
East Coast Dog Training
Certified Dog Trainer & Canine Reactivity Specialist 🐾