18/09/2026
Teach them to disengage.
Not to ignore the world or to stare at you every time something appears, but to be able to notice something and then make the choice to move on.
"I saw it. I don't need to do anything about it."
That's a skill I want reactive dogs to have long before I'm worrying about how beautifully they're walking beside us.
Start with something your dog can already cope with. Let them notice it and resist the urge to immediately tell them what to do.
Give them a second.
Do they look away? Turn back towards you? Start sniffing? Move away? Carry on with what they were doing? Reinforce that moment.
When working with reactive dogs, I'm looking for those little moments where the dog makes a good decision for themselves, because those are the decisions I want to see more of.
Over time, we're building a dog who can notice something in their environment without feeling they always have to get involved.
When you're living with a dog who currently thinks everything is their business, being able to choose to disengage is a pretty useful skill to have.
My supported 1:1 reactivity training starts from just £199 per month. That includes two private sessions each month, access to your own online training area with your plan and resources, progress notes and support between sessions.
We can work together in person or online, so you don't need to be local to Suffolk.
If you'd like help teaching your dog the skills they need to cope better with the world, comment HELP or send me a message and we can talk about what's going on.
