How many times have you heard those things? People mean well, they really do. Well, usually =) The odd person is just a jerk ;) But overall, people do have good intentions, they just don't understand. And until they have had a dog like yours, and experiences like yours, they aren't likely to understand.

But they are wrong.

Every dog, and every human, and every situation is unique. Take the picture below for instance. Bear, the Shiba is 12 years old and in his whole life, has never made a canine friend other than the other spitz in the home when he was adopted. His pretty extreme leash reactivity is very different and needs a different plan than a frustrated hyper-social dog, or a dog who has been attacked, or a dog who is in pain due to health issues.

There are no recipes. There is no one thing that if we all did it, our dogs would be just fine. There are no quick fixes.

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Feel like you aren't enough? Feel like giving up?

Sometimes we get upset and feel guilty or want to give up and rehome our dog or just stay home and never go out again.

Your experiences matter as much as your dog's. We can't train an anxious dog into being a fearless working dog and we can't train a busy, high drive working dog into being a placid laid back couch potato. We all know that. We also can't expect you to change your personality or to ignore your life experiences when interacting with your dog. The right plan accounts for YOUR needs as much as your dog's needs!
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People tell you that you must stop taking it easy on your dog, you to be tougher, more confident, or you need to use tools that hurt or scare your dog. You are told that punishment is the only way to get results. Maybe you are even told that e-collars and prong collars don't really hurt.

None of that is true.

You are enough. It is ok to take breaks. You don't have to hurt or scare your dog to train them. There is ALWAYS a better way. Find a community that values you and supports you. If you haven't done so already, check out my Free Reactivity Group. I'd love to have you there.

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Warmly,
Christina BSc, CDBC, PCBC-A, KPA-CTP

p.s. give your dog a scratch under their collar for me. If they like that =)

Leash Reactivity Deep Dive

Next week the deep dive into leash reactivity starts!

• 8 Weeks
• DAILY accountability, interaction, conversation & in-the-moment coaching, Tuesday through Saturday.
• WEEKLY live sessions to ask questions and discuss any challenges.
• VIDEO LESSONS specifically chosen for your needs and the group’s needs.
• SMALL GROUP of people facing similar challenges so we can support and learn from each other.

…. all designed to help you progress towards being able to walk your dog confidently and without fear!