💥 Reactivity 101: The One Habit That Makes a Big Difference

Want to prevent reactivity before it starts?

Here’s one of the most overlooked skills—learning to watch without staring.

Here’s how to tell the difference:
🔹 Watching = relaxed, checking in, less than 3 seconds of direct eye contact, able to disengage
🔹 Staring = stiff, tense, frozen in position, locked-in eye contact, unable to look around, sniff, or connect with you

So, why does this become a problem?
Because we often miss the early warning signs.
🚩 We confuse "socialization" with letting dogs hyper-focus
🚩 We mistake fixation for curiosity
🚩 We think intense focus or breed specific hunting behaviours look “cute” (especially in terriers, herders, bullies, and pointers)

I like to call this "Bus Stop Manners." Think of it like how you'd behave at a bus stop: you might nod or say a brief hello or strike up a conversation about the weather, but you don’t stare, hover, or launch into an intense conversation with a stranger. A socially savvy dog does the same—acknowledging others calmly and appropriately without rushing into play or staring. It’s about respectful, polite greetings.

How do you help your dog stop fixating?

✅ Positive interrupters – especially helpful for high-energy dogs (but watch for the “fool around” stress response masking anxious behaviour!)
✅ Cookie toss games – great for teaching displacement sniffing to worried dogs
✅ Management skills – so you can gracefully exit when needed

✅ Practice the “Three-Second Rule” – When your dog greets a friend (new or familiar), keep the interaction brief—like a polite handshake. Allow a quick sniff or hello, then guide them to disengage calmly.
✅ Practice in low-pressure spaces – build solid habits and muscle memory for you both, so you can remember what to do under stress

👣 Small changes early on can make a big impact.

🎧 Tune in: Want more? Check out the latest podcast episode.

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👉 Want help putting it all together? Explore my free resources below, or message me to learn how we can work together.

With care,
Christina