So no one told you, your dog will shake you to the core
Your dog will make you doubt yourself
Your dog will make you feel emotions you never thought were possible
Your hands will shake and sweat
Your breath will turn quick and short, rapidly
You will panic and freeze, not knowing what to do
As your dog barks and lunges at the end of the leash
At a kid
At a dog
At a person
At a garbage can
This is reactivity
With dogs that struggle with reactivity, I always tell clients you cannot avoid their triggers
You instead need to do the opposite – seek out those triggers
Find those fears, and take control as you purposely expose your dog
But at a safe distance, on-leash, with the correct tools and methods,
And of course with one of our most powerful tools – the clicker
Do not underestimate that clicker.
The amount of courage it can train a dog
The amount of clarity and pleasure it can create
Use it wisely
Time it wisely
Mean it when you use it
It can turn an insecure fearful dog into a brave curiosity seeker
It can train a dog to do almost anything
It can teach a dog how to problem solve
How to conquer their fears
How to make better choices
How to overcome reactivity
…..
Anyone struggling with reactivity, or fear-based behaviours, I am here for ya, I get it
I want my students to remember what I tell you during our lessons
Face those fears
It will get better
Trust me
…..
Love,
Laurin
