🔍Are You Missing Crucial Pieces?


Even with a great training plan, but without the supporting foundation pieces you may not progress.

There are many pieces of the puzzle that makes your dog who they are. Here are two of the common ones I see missed in a training plan.

Is your dog getting enough sleep?

Do they know how to just chill and have a rest day? Can you drink your mornign coffee or eat a meal in peace? This one piece is missing for a lot of reactive dogs.

We keep them busy, keep them enriched, keep them tired.. but we build a reactive brain. A big part of reactivity training for many dogs is to help them have a more relaxed base line arousal level.

What are your dog's genetically appropriate outlets?

Does your terrier get to shred stuff? Does your mastiff get to wrestle hard? Does your herding dog get to control movement? Does your retriever get to hold soft things in their mouth? Does your dachshund get to dig for badgers?

When we look at the dog in front of us, what intrinsically motivates them? What just 'feels good'?

Most dogs have things that they are genetically programmed to enjoy doing, whether through our selective breeding of dogs meant to do a task, or through more natural pressures in more primitive dogs like spitz and streeties.

When we tap into the dog's natural instincts, in ways that make sense to them, they are less reactive, less edgy, less likely to seek stimulation in conflict and reactivity.

The Next Leash Reactivity Deep Dive Begins Jan 2025

Check out the LEASH REACTIVITY DEEP-DIVE, my group mentorship program in which I spend 8 weeks with a small group of people struggling with leash reactivity. Submit videos, ask questions, and meet awesome people and dogs.

You'll receive daily support and feedback on your training for 8 whole weeks. This is a fantastic way to jump start your training and to get some real progress for both your dog and yourself. Build your dog's skills and confidence, as well as your own!

Free Resources

FB Reactivity Group

FB Puppy Group

Relaxation Protocol

Podcast

Podcast

Blog

New here?

Wondering what you've missed out on? You can find the previous emails filled with training tips here.

2738 Holden Corso Rd, Nanaimo, BC v9x 1n5
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Positive Dog

Subscribe if you'd like to receive my somewhat regular emails including training tips and concepts as well as info about my upcoming freebies and programs!

Read more from Positive Dog

Hey there, Dream Dog is designed to teach you how to train your dog in a way that makes sense for YOUR dog and for YOUR goals. Dream Dog is her to help any dog with BIG Feelings as well as puppies - the games we play address and prevent reactivity AND they are my foundations to build amazing dogs who can do anything, go anywhere and just live their best lives <3 >> Have questions? Not sure if it's for you? Book a zoom call to chat The BEST time to join Dream Dog is by end of day TODAY to get...

A pet owner typically wants their dog fully integrated into family life, including meeting friends and family, and maybe even going on vacation. You didn't know that your dog would struggle seeing other dogs or when kids were playing nearby, or when traffic drive by. You didn't know you'd be staying home more and that you'd be looking for specialty pet sitters. It's not your fault that this is confusing. Even if you 'did the research', it's easy to end up in this position. A rescue dog living...

When you've done training with your dog—whether in person or online—have you really understood why you play each training game? Why your instructor wants you to hold the leash a certain way, or deliver a treat at a specific moment or in a particular way? Or do you just try your best to follow instructions, trusting that your instructor is leading you down the right path? It's time to empower yourself. My goal isn't to hand you a recipe to follow. Recipes break the moment one thing changes! A...