The truth about reactive dogs and Living with Them
Break the Cycle - Repair your Bond
Reactive dogs and living with them can be hard!
Are you worried that it's something you've done that’s caused your dog’s reactivity? Maybe your dog can be walked by someone else but they act like this with you and you wonder, "Is it me?"
Most reactive dogs are perfect, affectionate family members at home but they change as soon as the front door opens and the fresh air hits them in the face
It's a tough call doing the walk of shame with a reactive dog who is barking and lunging, hard to control and a total nightmare. You've tried things that inadvertently made it worse and now you really don't know what to do so you freeze. It's terribly stressful.
You love your dog but you you may be starting to dislike them too. And that's a sore one to admit!
Many caring, intelligent owners struggle with their dog's reactivity and blame themselves to some degree but you need to know that none of this is your fault
The Vicious Reactivity Cycle
It's true that once you've had a few heart stopping incidents, it becomes a vicious cycle.
You become tense, panicked and defensive when you see a trigger that causes your dog to react. And so the cycle continues.
You change the times you walk, the routes you take and are constantly on edge, scanning around you. You’re both hypervigilant.
It's very lonely, stressful and depressing. You grieve for what could have been and for what you have lost.
This certainly isn't what you signed up for when you envisaged life with your dog. Like most of us, you probably envisaged a dog who is confident, happy, off lead having fun with their friends; who loves us, listens to us and is the perfect companion.
The truth about your Dog’s Reactivity
What if I told you that your dog picks up on your feelings and are reactive when they're with you because they are so invested in you.
They are totally in tune with your vibrations and emotions. They know you so well:
The tensing of the lead, the holding of your breath,
Your adrenaline pumping,
Every subconscious nuance in your body language,
The sound of your voice
Their receptiveness to even the tiniest involuntary sign from you.
Do you know what all this is?
It's a powerful testament to the beautiful bond and relationship you have together.
Find your Reactivity Advantage
It's a wonderful thing and it's possible to turn this to yours and your dog's advantage. As you become surer in your ability to manage and diffuse situations, you can change the messages you send to your dog.
Your dog's trust in you will grow and then we have the beginnings of a positive cycle where you gain confidence from each other.
Imagine, once you learn to use your connection to your advantage, you could be enjoying calm walks together where you can not only predict but change your dog’s behaviour.
You could turn things around and feel proud of your dog and certain of your incredible bond.
If you're ready for a change for the better, let's talk about ways that will work for both of you
Read my blog on How to Help My Reactive Dog on Walks - HERE
Ready to start turning things around? You can check all my training services here:
Find your Reactivity Advantage
Learn more about positive, science-led training methods here - Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK (APDT)