10/21/2026
Most dog owners are making their dog more reactive than they realize.
The first time your dog reacts, you think it’s a fluke. You get them past the trigger and keep going.
The next time your dog reacts, you talk to them and even pet them, which actually rewards the whole situation.
From that point forward, you see the trigger, tense up and brace for impact. Your dog feels that through the leash, and it cues them to react.
It can even become muscle memory. Then you stop taking your dog on walks because it’s a pain, and every time you bring them out it turns into an event.
If this is happening with your dog, do some self-reflection and think about your last walk:
Did you tense up?
Did you accidentally reward your dog by talking to them or petting them?
Did you grab the leash and make it tight?
Be honest with yourself. That’s where the fix starts.
