Show Notes
Why is it that some dogs enter a new home and begin to develop reactivity, seemingly out of nowhere? This often comes as a surprise to their new families, who weren't expecting to dive into a life with a reactive dog. In this episode, I bring in Tom Candy to help unpack what is going on in these scenarios. We discuss: What the general public doesn't know about the animal sheltering world What contributes to a dog's behavior changing in a new homeHow to actively prevent reactivity from de...
More from Rethinking Reactivity with Jessica Wheatcraft
Training Snacks are bite-sized episodes on topics or questions that have come up either with my clients or with other trainers in my mentorship. In this episode I answer questions from client Nisreen and her dog Tom covering: When should I decrease distance from triggers? How do I lower his arousal and build neutrality around triggers? ------------------- Dog pros - when you join the Leash Reactivity Mentorship for professionals you'll get help with your behavior cases for a full 12 months. L...
Are reactive dogs sensitive? Are sensitive dogs reactive? What about fearful dogs? In this conversation with Emily Lewis, CDBC from Vermont Dog Behavior we dive into what sensitivity is, and how we can best support dogs who struggle to cope with every day life. We cover: Sensitivity to handling, husbandry, and social interactionsHow sensitive dogs respond to social pressure, spatial pressure, and how social contracts steer those interactionsStrategies for helping sensitive dogs learn to feel ...
Caring for a reactive dog, or any dog that exhibits maladaptive behaviors, is hard. It often puts a high emotional toll on the person, who may already be struggling to meet their dog's needs while trying to juggle their own lives. And worse, so many go through this journey facing judgment from people who mean well, but don't truly "get it." If you have ever felt alone on this journey, this one is for you. 👉 In this episode, I talk with Jess Adam from Handlers and Humans about: What the ...
Alert barking. Territorial barking. Attention barking. Demand barking. There are many "types" of barking that occur inside of the home, but what is actually happening in these scenarios? Why do these types of barking occur so frequently, and why it so hard to get dogs to stop? In this episode we cover: - How to unpack barking to identify what is maintaining that behavior - How the environment is reinforcing your dog - Strategies for reducing barking towards foot traffic and delivery peo...
You might be wondering - what do free living dogs have to do with leash reactivity? Before the current life we have with pet dogs in Western countries, dogs were free living. And in many countries around the world including India, Turkey, and Mexico, you will still find tens of millions of free living dogs whose lives are drastically different than those of pet dogs in the U.S. What does it mean for a dog to have a good life? Is it the autonomy to move about as they please? Or is ...