All About Training Dogs

09/03/2026

Most reactive dog owners are trying to fix the wrong problem.

They practice more sits.

More “look at me.”

More disengagement.

More impulse control.

And their dog STILL loses it the second another dog gets too close.

Here’s why:

Reactivity isn’t an obedience problem.

It’s an emotional response.

Your dog can know exactly how to sit, heel or look at you…

and still feel scared, threatened, frustrated or overwhelmed by the dog across the street.

That’s why a reactive dog can look perfectly trained one second—

and be barking and lunging the next.

Because when emotion takes over, knowing what to do and feeling safe enough to do it are two very different things.

This is where a lot of reactive dog training gets stuck.

We spend so much time trying to control what the dog does around the trigger…

that we never actually change what the trigger means to the dog.

And that distinction matters.

Because when another dog stops predicting danger, conflict or overwhelm…

you don’t have to work nearly as hard to manufacture calm.

Calm starts happening on its own.

Your dog can see another dog.

Look at them.

Process what they’re seeing.

And realize:

That dog isn’t a problem.

That’s the emotional shift I want.

Not a dog who is desperately trying to hold a sit while staring at something they’re terrified of.

Not a dog who has learned to immediately look away.

A dog who can look at the trigger and genuinely not care.

That’s what I mean when I talk about rewiring reactivity.

And there’s a specific process I use to create that shift.

Most reactive dog owners are missing one of the most important pieces of that process—which is why they can train for months without seeing the change they expected.

Comment REWIRE and I’ll send you my free video training that shows you what that missing piece is and how I start changing the emotion driving the barking and lunging.

08/14/2026

Your reactive dog isn’t giving you a hard time because they “need more obedience.”

Here’s the distinction that changes everything:

Obedience is voluntary.
Reactivity is involuntary.

When you ask your dog to sit, stay, look at you or leave it, you’re asking them to consciously perform a behaviour.

But when your dog sees another dog and immediately barks, lunges or loses it?

There’s an emotional response happening underneath that behaviour.

And that’s why correcting your dog for “not listening” misses the point.

You’re trying to change what your dog is doing without changing how your dog feels.

I don’t want your dog to simply sit there while internally freaking out.

I want them to see another dog and genuinely think:

“Meh. 🤷‍♀️”

That’s the goal.

Neutrality.

Because when we change the emotion driving the reaction, we don’t have to spend every walk desperately trying to control the reaction.

Want to understand how?

I explain it in a free 3-minute webinar.

Comment REWIRE and I’ll send it to you.

08/01/2026

Have you ever felt like you’ve tried everything... but your dog still barks and lunges?

You’ve taught:

✔️ Sit
✔️ Look at me
✔️ Heel
✔️ Leave it
✔️ Touch

You’ve probably even been told to get your dog’s attention before they react.

Here’s the problem...

Those are behavioral skills.

Reactivity is an emotional problem.

Imagine you’re terrified of spiders.

Would someone telling you to “sit” suddenly make you feel calm?

Of course not.

Your dog isn’t ignoring your cues because they’re stubborn.

They’re struggling to respond because their emotions have taken over.

That’s why so many reactive dog owners feel like they’re failing.

It’s not because they need another command.

It’s because they need a structured process that changes how their dog feels around other dogs.

Once your dog starts feeling safer...

Thinking becomes easier.

Learning becomes easier.

And that’s when the barking and lunging start to change.

The biggest mistake isn’t teaching commands.

It’s expecting commands to solve an emotional problem.

💛 The Reactive Dog Intensive opens tomorrow.

If you’re ready to stop hiding from other dogs and start looking for them instead, comment READY and I’ll send you all the details

07/31/2026

Training isn’t always about asking for more.
Sometimes it’s about slowing down, especially for my sweet sensitive boy.

Champ is a little nervous about things touching his head, so today we’re doing his Calmer Canine treatment outside on the patio—one of his favorite places to relax.

Calmer Canine is a drug-free device that uses targeted pulsed electromagnetic field (tPEMF) therapy. It’s designed to deliver gentle electromagnetic signals to the area of the brain involved in processing emotions, helping reduce anxiety and promote a calmer emotional state over time.

Because I want this to be a positive experience, I’m paying attention to how Champ feels—not just whether he’s wearing it “correctly.” If he’s relaxed, then I’m happy. If he’s seems uncomfortable with it I’ll take it off and desensitize it.

Whether you’re introducing a new piece of equipment or helping a fearful dog, the goal is the same: create positive experiences that help them feel safe.

One session at a time. 💙

Get 10% off using Code Trainingdogs10

Have you used this before?

Assisi Loop Therapy, Zomedica: Animal Health Company,
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03/31/2026

Many reactive dog owners lose confidence along the way.

Maybe they tried training before and it didn’t go well.
Maybe they’ve watched videos or taken advice that didn’t help.

Over time, they start to wonder if someone else needs to train the dog.

But the reality is that reactive dog training works best when owners learn the process themselves.

Because the reactions happen in real life — on your walks, in your neighborhood, and in everyday situations.

When owners understand how to rewire their dog’s emotions and see change, confidence starts to return.

And that confidence is often the beginning of real change for both the dog and the human.

The best way to do this is by using a structured process that rewires emotions.

Ps. This is a true story of a client that told me she didn’t feel confident training her reactive dog. She said she wanted to do what was best for her dog. I told her I could help but she needed to participate as well. We started with the rewire process, I worked with the dog for 10 minutes and that’s it! She’s done all the other training and takes her dog to the park to practice every day.

If your confidence has been bruised, don’t worry, that bruise will heal quickly when you follow a structured process.

Don’t give up! You’ve got this!!

03/05/2026