01/06/2026
5 things you should NEVER do with a reactive dog 🚨
❌ Forcing them to sit — Pushing a reactive dog into a sit doesn’t build confidence. It builds dread. Every forced interaction confirms that the world is scary and you won’t listen.
❌ Flooding them with triggers — Throwing them in the deep end isn’t exposure therapy. Standing next to a busy road or a dog park overwhelms their nervous system and makes reactivity worse, not better.
❌ Punishing the reaction — Your dog isn’t being dominant or dramatic. They’re communicating fear or frustration. Punishing a growl or bark removes their warning signal — and creates a dog who bites without warning.
❌ Tight leash tension — The moment you see a trigger and tighten the lead, your dog feels it. That tension travels straight down and tells them “yep, something bad is happening.” Loose leash = calm signals.
❌ Expecting overnight results — Reactivity is an emotional response, not a training gap. Rewiring those patterns takes consistency, patience, and the right approach. Progress isn’t linear — but it IS possible.
Your reactive dog isn’t broken. They just need the right support 🧡
Save this for your next walk 🙌
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Paws & Praise Positive Dog Training
