Canine Connection - Dog Reactivity Specialist

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Canine Connection - Dog Reactivity Specialist

Canine Connection specialises in Fearful, Frustrated and Over-Excited dogs.

10/12/2025

This is Dusty. 🧡

She’s only four weeks into the GROWL programme, but her guardians are already noticing positive changes, and if you share your life with a Dachshund, you’ll know how huge that feels.

Dachshunds are clever, sensitive little souls with big feelings in small bodies. That can sometimes look like barking at every noise, worrying about people and dogs getting too close, or feeling the need to announce absolutely everything that’s happening outside the window. Dusty was finding the world a bit overwhelming, and her reactivity was starting to impact day-to-day life – for her and her people..

If you’ve got a Dachshund who barks at everything, struggles on walks or finds visitors a lot, you are absolutely not alonwe, and it isn’t a lost cause. GROWL is designed exactly for dogs like Dusty. 🐾

If you’d like to chat about whether it could help your sausage too, pop me a message or comment “DACHSHUND” below and I’ll get in touch.

09/12/2025

No, your reactive dog doesn’t need a ‘firmer hand’, they need to feel safer...

If you live with a reactive dog, you’ve probably heard something along these lines- “You’re too soft on them.” “They just need stricter rules.” “You’ve let them get away with it.” It’s a great little story people tell when they don’t understand what’s really going on. But reactivity isn’t about a lack of discipline, it’s about big emotions. Fear, frustration, stress, confusion… your dog’s behaviour is a symptom of how they’re feeling, not proof you’ve failed to be “firm” enough.

When a dog barks, lunges or spins at people, dogs or traffic, they’re not plotting to embarrass you. It may feel like it... but I promise they are not!

They’re saying, in the only way they know how, “I don’t feel safe right now.” Adding punishment or harsh handling on top of that doesn’t magically teach calm; it teaches them that scary things happen and their person becomes unpredictable too.

What reactive dogs really need is to feel safer, more distance from triggers, predictable routines, clear communication, and guardians who will advocate for them instead of forcing them to “just deal with it”.

Kindness and boundaries can exist together. You can absolutely have structure, management and training without intimidation or fear. And in the long run, that’s what creates genuine progress, a dog who trusts you and feels supported, not a dog who’s too scared to express how overwhelmed they are.

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too soft” with your reactive dog, I want you to think about this- you’re allowed to prioritise safety and connection over looking “firm” for other people.

06/12/2025

What’s ONE Christmas thing you’re giving yourself permission to skip for your reactive dog this year? 🎄💛

We put so much pressure on ourselves in December, the markets, the light trails, the Santa Paws photos, the busy family walks… and then somewhere in the middle of all that, we have a dog who’s already finding the world a bit much. Your reactive dog doesn’t know it’s Christmas. They just know things suddenly feel louder, busier and less predictable.

It’s absolutely okay if your version of “festive” looks like: quiet morning walks, saying no to certain invites, leaving your dog at home for the big family meal, or ditching the Christmas market entirely in favour of a muddy field and an early night. Protecting their emotional wellbeing (and your nervous system) is not you being boring or overprotective, it’s you being a brilliant advocate for the dog in front of you.

05/12/2025

This is going to trigger some people… but your dog does not need to ‘join the fun’ at every Christmas event. 🎄

There’s so much pressure at this time of year to take our dogs everywhere, Christmas markets, light trails, Santa Paws, family gatherings, pub lunches, you name it.

Social media is FULL of dogs in festive jumpers posing by trees and fairy lights, and it’s very easy to start thinking, “I should be doing that… my dog is missing out… people will think I’m odd if I don’t bring them.” If I am being honest, your dog doesn’t care about “festive vibes”. They care about feeling safe.

For reactive and sensitive dogs, “more exposure” is not always better. If your dog is already worried about people, dogs, noise or busy spaces, dragging them through a packed Christmas market or a hectic family visit can actually make things worse. Every time they’re pushed over threshold, heart racing, scanning, barking, lunging, unable to think, their brain is practising panic, not calm. That doesn’t build confidence; it often increases their sensitivity over time.

You are allowed to say, “No, my dog won’t be joining us for this one.”
You’re allowed to leave them at home with a stuffed Kong, a cosy bed and some Christmas radio on.
You’re allowed to book a sitter or ask a friend to have them for a few hours.

That isn’t being “soft” or “over the top”, it’s being a thoughtful guardian who understands what their individual dog can cope with.

If your dog would genuinely rather have a quiet walk in the woods and a nap on the sofa than queue for Santa Paws, that is absolutely okay. In fact, it’s more than okay, it’s good welfare!

Tell me in the comments: which Christmas event are you giving yourself permission to leave your dog out of this year?

03/12/2025

Your reactive dog isn’t ruining Christmas, they’re telling you they’re overwhelmed. 🎄💛

When your dog barks at guests, lunges on a festive walk or can’t settle with all the noise and excitement, it’s so easy to slip into, “They’re being so naughty, they’re ruining everything.” But reactivity isn’t a dog plotting to wreck Christmas, it’s an emotional response. It’s your dog saying, “This is too much for me. I don’t feel safe. I don’t know what to do.” Those big behaviours are often driven by fear, frustration or sheer overload, not a lack of love or effort on your part.

Barking and lunging at visitors or out on twinkly, crowded walks is often about three things: safety, predictability and space. Your dog doesn’t understand Christmas, they just notice that the house smells different, there are strange people in their space, the kids are louder, the walks are busier and everything feels a bit unpredictable. Reactivity is their way of trying to cope and create distance from whatever feels uncomfortable or scary.

The kindest thing we can do is to listen to that communication instead of fighting it. That might look like: giving them a quiet room with a comfy bed and something to chew while guests visit; choosing shorter, quieter walks over busy “festive” ones; or saying no to certain invitations altogether because you know it will be too much for your dog (and for you). None of that means you’re failing, it means you’re advocating.

If you’re heading into Christmas with a reactive dog, what’s one small change you can make to help them feel safer this year?

30/11/2025

Tomorrow is 1st December… and with it comes a lot of pressure, not just on us, but on our dogs too.

We talk a lot about managing our dog’s behaviour in December, guests, kids off school, busy walks, decorations, routines all over the place. But something we don’t talk about enough is managing our own expectations, especially if you live with a reactive or sensitive dog. Your dog doesn’t know it’s Christmas. They just know that everything suddenly feels louder, busier and a bit less predictable.

You don’t have to have the “perfect” dog who copes beautifully with a full house, endless social plans and chaotic family walks. It’s okay (and probably more helpful for your dog) if:
You leave them at home for certain events
You skip the packed 'Santa Paws' visit
You choose a quiet, muddy field over a “festive” town stroll

Protecting their emotional bandwidth (and yours) is not failing them, it’s actually one of the kindest things you can do. December doesn’t need a behaviour makeover from your dog; it might just need a mindset shift from us.

If you’re heading into this month with a reactive dog, what’s one expectation you’re giving yourself permission to soften? 💛

27/11/2025

This is the truth about reactive dogs that I wish more people knew. 💛

Your dog isn’t “naughty”, “broken”, or “a bad dog”. Reactivity isn’t a personality flaw, it’s a sign that your dog is struggling with something in their world.

Any dog, of any breed, can find life “too much” and start barking, lunging or spinning as a way of coping. It’s not because you’ve failed them. It’s because they don’t yet have another way to feel safe.

A reactive dog is not automatically an aggressive dog. Most of the time, we’re looking at big feelings: worry, fear, frustration, confusion. The behaviour might look loud and dramatic, but underneath it is often a dog thinking, “I can’t handle this, please give me space.” When we start to see it that way, everything changes, for them and for us.

And yes, progress is possible. With the right support, tweaks to their environment, and training that focuses on safety and connection (not just “stopping the barking”), reactive dogs can learn new patterns and feel calmer in their world. It’s not about turning them into a different dog, it’s about helping the dog you already love feel safer, understood and supported.

25/11/2025

“Dog trainers always have perfectly trained dogs.”
…said absolutely no one who has seen the behind-the-scenes with a trainer’s dog 😂

We’ve just finished our Scentwork Foundations course and honestly, it’s been so good for both of us. I spend so much time helping other people with their dogs that it’s easy to let my own boy’s training slide to the bottom of the list. I wanted to do something just for us, something that would build his confidence, give his brain a job and let us have some proper 1:1 time together.

Is he perfect in class? Absolutely not.
Am I the perfect calm, collected handler every week? Definitely not.
But that’s kind of the point, we’re both learning, making mistakes, trying again and growing together. And that, to me, is what training should be about.

Huge thank you to for running such a lovely, supportive course, we’ve loved it. 🐶

Tell me, is there something you’d love to try with your own dog next year, just for you and them?

22/11/2025

November is Pet Diabetes Month, and it’s so important to know the early signs.

Diabetes can affect both dogs and cats, and the sooner it’s spotted, the easier it is to manage. Many of the first symptoms are subtle… and easy to brush off as “just getting older” or “a bit off lately.”

Here are the key things to look out for:

🐾 Increased thirst or peeing more than usual
🐾 Changes in appetite, eating more or showing less interest
🐾 Unexplained weight loss
🐾 Low energy or seeming ‘flat’
🐾 Cloudy eyes (more common in dogs)
🐾 Recurring infections, skin, urinary, or ear

If something feels different, trust your instincts. A simple vet check can make a huge difference.

With early diagnosis and the right management plan, diabetic pets can live long, happy, active lives. ❤️

If you’ve noticed any of these signs in your dog or cat, speak to your vet. You won’t be wasting anyone’s time, it’s always better to check.

18/11/2025

Sometimes it’s easy to focus on the day-to-day training wins… but today I wanted to share a beautiful testimonial instead 💙✨

Otto, you’ve come so far, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to support you all 🐾💛

Here’s to every reactive dog who just needs time, safety and understanding… and to every guardian who refuses to give up on them!

Address

Breach Lane, Lower Halstow
Sittingbourne
ME97PL

Website

http://www.canineconnectioncompany.co.uk/, https://rachel-4s8s54oy.scoreapp.com/

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