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Reactivity, Recall, and Settling at a Cafe...

Published 8 months ago • 1 min read

Recall, reactivity, and calm behaviours all draw from the same foundations: self-control and arousal management. On the surface, they don't seem the same - recall is fast and high-energy, reactivity is emotionally charged, and settling at a cafe is low-energy and chill.

These behaviours all depend on the dog’s ability to regulate their internal state and make choices under stimulation.

Different goals, same skillset

When you call your dog, they must disengage from distractions and focus on you.

When faced with a trigger (dog, skateboard, squirrel), they must inhibit their initial reaction and choose a calmer response.

When sitting quietly at a café, they must regulate excitement and frustration, even when the server comes by or a person at a neighbouring table looks like they want to share their muffin.

All of those are examples of self-regulation — the dog managing internal impulses in the face of external stimulation.

Most people treat these skills as separate issues.

“My dog doesn't come when called.” “My dog is reactive.” “My dog can’t settle.”

But they’re not three different problems — they’re three symptoms of the same missing foundations. If your dog struggles with arousal management, everything else becomes harder.

Stay tuned for info on an upcoming class! I'm just formulating the details and I'm really excited to share it with you ❤️

Happy training,

Christina

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Positive Dog

Christina Young, BSc, CDBC, PCBC-A

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