03/02/2026
When I work with reactive behaviour, I don’t start by trying to shut it down.
Barking, lunging, and pulling are responses to stimuli, not random outbursts. They’re a dog’s way of coping with something they find difficult, overwhelming, or uncertain.
So instead of asking “how do we stop this?”, I start with:
💚 what is the dog responding to?
💚 what are they feeling in that moment?
💚 what support do they need to cope more calmly?
From there, we build a plan that helps the dog feel safer and more in control, and gives their person clear, practical steps to follow. Not quick fixes, not punishment, just structured, dog-centred training that actually addresses the cause.
Because when you understand the reason, you can change the response.
👉 Comment PLAN if you’d like support working through reactive behaviour with your dog.