10/14/2026
My reactive dog made me who I am today.
He acted as my mirror, showing me not just the good but also the challenging parts: the reactivity, the frustration, the unfulfilled, and especially - the lack of emotional and nervous system regulation. And while our training focused on him, it also helped me. We learned how to slow down and think before acting, to find joy in the process, to rest and regulate, and to focus on progress over perfection.
I was forced to take better care of myself - physically AND emotionally - so that I could show up fully for him. Because without nutritious food, purpose driven movement, adequate sleep, and better emotional health, I wasn’t my best self, so taking care of myself was actually taking care of him. And perhaps the most surprising human benefit of our dog training journey - because dogs are truth seekers and know when you’re lying, I couldn’t continue living in untruths and un-fulfillment; my reactive dog pushed me to live a more authentic life full of activities that filled my cup (instead of just looking good on paper).
So every time someone says, “wow you’re great!” I tell them that they have my reactive dog to thank for that.
I’m curious - how has your reactive dog made you a better human?! ⬇️
And if you’d like to hear more about how my reactive dog changed my life, tune into Ep. 146 of Spirit of a Badass Podcast with Alecia Jacobson with Alecia Jacobson - linked below!
🐾 Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirit-of-a-badass/id1680292789?i=1000796073503
🐾 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2z3zV4qWgelYRk2BOn3Q9H?si=03c6292597b14069
🐾 YouTube Podcasts:https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=d86hpt1CNFw&si=UPgPmYywatvI2H6b
