Reactive Dog Training

Reactive Dog Training 🐕 Claire Lawrence: Head Trainer for Reactive Dogs
❤️ Recover your dog owning confidence
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We’re not here to play it safe. We’re here to break the silence around reactive dogs, challenge outdated industry standards, and build a movement — through music, merch, and message — that turns judgement into understanding and shame into strength.

Most reactive dog owners don’t need more training.They need less overwhelm.Because the truth is, most owners I speak to ...
14/06/2026

Most reactive dog owners don’t need more training.

They need less overwhelm.

Because the truth is, most owners I speak to already know a lot.

They’ve watched the videos.

Read the books.

Followed the trainers.

Bought the courses.

Tried the treats.

Practised the techniques.

And yet they’re still struggling.

Not because they’re failing.

But because they’re trying to juggle 27 different pieces of advice from 14 different people while dealing with the emotional stress of living with a reactive dog.

No wonder they’re exhausted.

The owners who make the biggest breakthroughs are rarely the ones who know the most.

They’re the ones who stop chasing every new idea and start following a simple plan consistently.

That’s exactly why the next Reactive Dog Challenge exists.

Not to give you more information.

To help you actually apply what matters.

The next challenge doesn’t begin until September, but the waitlist is now open.

Comment CHALLENGE below and I’ll send you the details

13/06/2026

I know living with a reactive dog can feel exhausting at times.

The constant scanning, planning, worrying, explaining, and second-guessing yourself can wear you down.

But, while you’re carrying the weight of managing it all, it’s worth remembering that your dog is carrying something too.

They aren’t giving you a hard time.

Most of the time, they’re having a hard time.

Behind the barking, lunging, growling, or frantic behaviour is often a dog that doesn’t feel safe, doesn’t understand what’s happening, or simply doesn’t yet have the skills to cope with the world around them.

Progress rarely comes from force, frustration, or trying to rush the process.

It comes from patience.

It comes from understanding.

It comes from showing up for them on the difficult days as well as the good ones.

With time, kindness, consistency, and a whole lot of patience, things can get better.

Not always perfect.

But better.

And sometimes, those small improvements end up changing both of your lives.

12/06/2026

Second day of the tracking course with Logan yesterday and whilst we didn’t take much footage, we worked on indications and introducing the dog scent to him to find.

He thoroughly enjoyed the day again and didn’t take his baby brain long to get tired

After ‘work’ we met up with The Multi-dog Maven, Sarah Roper and her team for a walk and some food

Logan had some off lead time working on his recall and lead work, but interestingly I always work on lead work when the dog is off the lead to begin with, or only on the collar

This can provide a great level of communication to the dog but also, if we’re doing it off the lead, it really helps to take off the lead pressure which, for some dogs, can inadvertently cause issues later down the line

It didn’t take him long to get sleepy again and found his safe space on the sofa with Nana 🥰

Overall another fabulous day

11/06/2026

Yesterday, we began Logan’s level one in tracking for search and rescue in the hope he will pass all three levels and become an operational dog helping to find lost dogs in the future

It was a great day of learning for both of us and he settled well into the class

He also experienced by nanas home for the first time, stealing all of her teddies and fluffy door stops 🤣

But on the whole, settled well and made us both laugh

It’s good to keep learning for both ends of the lead, as it really helps to build confidence, tolerance and settled behaviours

Here’s to the final two days training before we head home and continue the work.

What new things are you learning with your dog? Let me know below ⬇️

10/06/2026

One of the hardest parts of owning a reactive dog isn’t actually the dog.

It’s the people.

Sometimes the people who seem kind, supportive and understanding when everything is going well…

Are the very same people who disappear, judge you, or join the criticism when things get difficult.

And honestly?

This doesn’t just happen with reactive dogs.

It happens everywhere in life.

The reality is that most people only understand situations they’ve experienced for themselves.

If they’ve never lived with a reactive dog…

Never felt the anxiety before a walk…

Never had strangers staring at them…

Never had to make difficult decisions to keep everyone safe…

Then they’re looking at your situation through a completely different lens.

And when people don’t understand something, they often fill in the gaps with assumptions.

That’s where a lot of judgement comes from.

Not knowledge.

Not experience.

Assumptions.

The lesson I’ve learned is that when these situations happen, stop trying to control what everyone else thinks.

You can’t.

You can’t control rumours.

You can’t control gossip.

You can’t control whether people choose to understand.

What you can control is how you show up.

How you train.

How you advocate for your dog.

How you continue moving forward.

Because at the end of the day, people will always have opinions about things they’ve never experienced.

But your dog doesn’t need your energy spent fighting those people.

Your dog needs you focused on helping them.

If you’ve ever felt judged because of your dog, just know you’re not alone.

Keep doing the work.

Keep learning.

Keep showing up.

The people who truly understand will recognise it

09/06/2026

Reactive dogs can absolutely learn to cope in busy environments when they’re given the right support.

It wasn’t an easy session.

There were distractions, challenges, and plenty of moments where Isla and Alfie had to work hard to make good decisions.

But, that’s exactly where progress happens.

Not in the quiet field.
Not in the controlled setup.
Not when everything goes perfectly in the classroom or training hall.

Progress happens when dogs learn how to navigate the real world while their owners learn how to guide them through it.

Isla and Alfie were finally able to start tackling the town, worked through the many distractions in front of them, and came away more experienced than they were when they arrived.

That’s all we’re ever aiming for.

Not perfection.

Just a little more confidence, a little more understanding, and a little more progress than yesterday.

❤️ Well done, Team Isla and Alfie.

How far has your dog come in the last 6 months?

Let me know below 👇

08/06/2026

Camping with reactive dogs can feel impossible.

But with the right setup, realistic expectations, and a bit of planning, it can become something you can actually enjoy.

This was our first camping trip with all three dogs together (although Digger is a seasoned professional at this point in this elderly life 😅)

My biggest focus was Dot.

She’s the dog most likely to struggle in a new environment, so my goal wasn’t to test her or throw her in at the deep end.

My goal was to set her up to succeed.

In this video, you’ll see some of the things I did to help all three dogs settle into a completely new environment, manage distractions, and stay relaxed throughout the trip.

Was it perfect?

No.

But perfection was never the goal.

Progress was 🙌

And that’s exactly what we got.

We came home tired and slightly sleep deprived… but incredibly pleased with how the dogs handled it all.

Because rehabilitation isn’t about creating a dog that never makes mistakes.

It’s about creating a dog you can confidently take places and enjoy life with.

If your dream this summer is to visit new places, enjoy more walks, go camping, have days out, or simply stop feeling anxious every time you pick up the lead…

That’s exactly why I created the 90 Day Reactive Dog Recovery Program.

The early bird offer officially ended last night.

However, after a long weekend away and arriving home completely exhausted, I haven’t changed the price back yet.

So, if you’ve been thinking about joining, today is genuinely your final opportunity to secure the lowest price this program will ever be offered at.

I’ll be updating it later today and you’ll still be able to join until the end of the week, but not at this rate.

Just to add, this isn’t an obedience course.

It’s a structured rehabilitation program designed to help both you and your dog build confidence, understanding, and practical skills that last for life.

Because the investment you make now can completely change what the next 5, 10, or even 15 years with your dog look like.

When the program opens again in September, the price will be increasing.

If you’d like one of the remaining spaces, DM and send me a message and I’ll point you in the right direction.

Here’s to a wonderful summer with plenty of adventures 🏕️

07/06/2026

People keep asking me what we actually cover inside the 90 Day Reactive Dog Recovery Program

This isn’t just another obedience course.

Over the last intake, we’ve worked on everything from muzzle training and handling difficult situations with confidence…

To dealing with off-lead dogs without panic.

We’ve tackled resource guarding, territorial barking, reactivity around dogs and people, lead handling, engagement, recall, emotional regulation and building trust back between dog and owner.

But perhaps more importantly…

We’ve helped owners stop feeling overwhelmed, embarrassed and alone.

Because reactive dog training isn’t just about changing the dog.

It’s about changing how you feel when you pick up the lead.

The confidence to walk your dog without constantly scanning the horizon.

The ability to make decisions instead of reacting to problems.

And finally having a plan instead of trying random bits of advice from the internet.

If you’re watching this thinking, “I need this…”

Early bird offer to join closes tonight.

This is your last chance to join us at the early bird price.

Comment READY or send me a message and let’s see if it’s the right fit for you.

06/06/2026

Just because they’re big, or that we are women doesn’t mean we can’t own them

I know of many men who have been terrified just seeing my dogs because of what they are… 🤷🏻‍♀️

Choose the bear ladies 🐻

And, if you are struggling with your large dog, just know they are capable of being easier to handle and you can build engagement so that they want to listen to you whether you’re a man or a woman!

05/06/2026

One thing I’ve noticed about reactive dog owners…

The day they reach out for help is usually after a really bad day.

The walk was awful.

Their dog reacted.

They’re upset, frustrated, embarrassed, exhausted.

And in that moment they think:

“I can’t keep doing this.”

But then something happens.

A few days pass.

The dog seems better.

Life settles down.

And suddenly they start thinking:

“Maybe it’s not that bad.”

“Maybe I can figure this out myself.”

Until the next bad day arrives.

And the cycle starts all over again.

If this sounds like you, I want you to know something:

The version of you that reached out wasn’t weak, dramatic or failing.

They were simply being honest.

So, don’t wait until you’re back at breaking point before getting support.

Because that bad day will come around again.

And you deserve help before it does.

DM me to chat. I see you 🫶🏻

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