Living with a reactive dog can be exhausting and frustrating. Walks become stressful, having visitors feels overwhelming, and it can feel like you’re constantly on edge, waiting for the next reaction. You’re not alone—and your dog isn’t being “bad.” Reactivity is often a sign that a dog is struggling to cope with their environment.
The good news? With the right plan and support, reactive dogs can make meaningful progress!
IS YOUR DOG EXPERIENCING
REACTIVITY?
What Is Reactivity?
Reactivity refers to an intense response to specific triggers. These reactions can look like barking, lunging, growling, whining, or freezing. Reactivity can show up for different reasons and in different situations, including:
LEASH REACTIVITY
Dogs who are calm off-leash but react strongly when on leash. This is often caused by frustration, lack of choice, or feeling trapped while seeing other dogs or people.
FEAR BASED REACTIVITY
Dogs who react because they feel unsafe or threatened. Their behavior is a way to create distance from something that scares them, such as strangers, dogs, sounds, or unfamiliar environments.
EXCITEMENT BASED REACTIVITY
Dogs who become overly aroused or frustrated when they see something they want to interact with—like other dogs or people—but can’t access it. This excitement can spill over into barking and lunging.
How we can help
We offer Behavior Modification Evaluations and Private Training specifically designed for reactive dogs.
Behavior Modification Evaluation
This initial evaluation allows us to:
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Learn about your dog’s history, triggers, and current challenges
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Observe your dog’s behavior and stress signals
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Create a customized training plan tailored to your dog and your lifestyle
Private Training
Private sessions give you hands-on guidance in a controlled, supportive setting. Training plans are adjusted as your dog progresses, ensuring steady and realistic improvement.
Our Training Approach
We use a positive reinforcement-based approach grounded in counterconditioning and behavior modification principles.
This means:
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Teaching your dog new, healthier emotional responses to triggers
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Pairing previously difficult situations with positive experiences
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Working at your dog’s pace, using distance and management to set them up for success
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Building skills, confidence, and coping strategies rather than suppressing behavior
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Our goal isn’t just to reduce reactions—it’s to help your dog feel safer, more confident, and better equipped to navigate the world.