Show Notes
Join the leash reactivity mentorship starting March 22nd This episode is all about dogs that bark/lunge/growl at strangers, both on walks and inside the home. Lisa and I discuss: The difference between reactivity and aggressionHow to help dogs with stranger directed aggression acclimate to new peopleWhy "first impressions" are so important for these casesHow to tell if the dog is actually comfortable around a guestWhat to teach dogs who are reactive on leash towards peopleAnd so much moreAbou...
More from Rethinking Reactivity with Jessica Wheatcraft
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 ...
Katrina wrote a really fantastic blog post called Why You Should Run From Engage/Disengage. Quick caveat, it's not because she doesn't like the protocol. In this episode, Katrina and I discuss: Contingencies in training - what they are and how to analyze themHow the execution of open bar/closed bar and engage/disengage can actually create unintended consequences for reactive dogsHow to determine whether or not your procotol is workingWhy and how high value food can be coercive for dogsA...