Debbie Thomas CPDT

05/06/2026

REDEFINING REACTIVITY

Reactivity is a complex topic that requires an individual approach for each dog and their specific circumstances. But the underlying driver is often the same — it’s an emotional response.

Trying to “fix” it through obedience training, corrections, or punishment-based methods focuses on what a dog does, instead of how a dog feels. It doesn’t address the root of the problem—and often creates new ones.

Reactivity can quickly become self-reinforcing because it works. When the trigger moves away, the dog experiences relief—and that emotional shift strengthens the response. The more it’s repeated, the more it becomes a default or a habitual behaviour.

Changing an emotional response is not a quick fix. Real change takes time, patience, understanding, and consistent practice.

Behaviour is the symptom. Emotion is the cause. Work on changing that emotion and the behaviour will follow.

Understanding that behaviour is driven by emotion, should change how we respond to our dogs. They’re not being difficult—they’re struggling.

Looking at reactivity from this perspective should encourage us to be more empathetic and understand that we need to support them rather than control them.

04/28/2026

💥 Puzzle Dog is closing its doors ánd it is my birthday April 30st, so we are ending this chapter with a bang 💥

Starting now: 56% OFF EVERYTHING
No code needed

Is it hard to make a choice?
A bundle of ALL COURSES for dog owners is now available with 60% discount.
A bundle of all patterns is also available with 60% off

IMPORTANT:
- We have transitioned to a download-only format, there is no long-term hosting.
- Download your courses immediately after purchase, once May 1st hits, these resources will be gone for good.

Courses:www.puzzledogacademy.ca
Patterns: www.puzzledog.ca/shop

04/27/2026

There IS a missing link here ➡️Frustration

Yet we’re still so laser focused on the actual reaction.
The barks, the lunges, the spins.
The behaviour that makes us wish the earth would just open and swallow us up when others are around.

Frustrated dogs can tumble into reacting very, very quickly.
Frustration IS a major driver of unwanted behaviour.

Imagine it for a minute.

You want to get somewhere and you’re prevented.
You want to get closer to something interesting, but can’t.
You’re trying to have some fun, and you’re stopped.

Look, I do get it.
Some dogs are an absolute challenge, especially reactive dogs.

But what if that frustration is the actual starting point?

Can you trust them more in certain areas?
Give them more choice and agency?

Frustration is often reduced by giving them more appropriate choices.
Yet we hold on tighter because we feel we have to.

Living with a reactive dog can be scary.
So we add safety. We add rules.
But are we taking away too much and causing more of what tips them into reacting?

What if that behaviour is, at least in part, shaped by how much control we’re actually trying to grasp onto?

04/27/2026

But they KNOW it.
Chances are, they don’t. Not out there.

This is one of those areas that frustrates both ends of the leash.
But we have to look at what’s actually happening.

A quick side step.

I design logos and graphics for clients.
Put me in my office, at my computer, and I can do it well.

Now put me in a busy café or a mall?

I’m looking at the cabinet with the cakes.
I’m hearing the person beside me going on about their co-worker.
I bump into someone I know.
That great idea I had? Gone.

I suddenly can’t do what I KNOW how to do.

The environment changed. Completely.

Put me in a quieter café, I’d probably manage.
Do it there a few times, I’d get better and better.

So why do we think dogs are any different?

They learned to listen in the lounge.
Maybe did a few solid downs in the yard.
Then it all falls apart the moment you step out the gate.

Because the environment changed.

That new smell in the grass.
The grumbly motorbike going past.
The lawn mower in the background.

None of that existed in your lounge.

And the further you move into higher distraction areas,
the more the environment will win.

So flip it.

Build those listening skills in those lower level environments first.
Add small distractions.
Use higher value rewards so it’s worth it.

Ask for a few basics there. Then build.

That’s how you grow the skill.

If you haven’t put those intermediate steps in,
you’re asking too much, too soon.

04/27/2026

04/23/2026

We're excited to be celebrating our one year anniversary in Bellevue. The warm welcome has been humbling and we look forward to serving the community for years to come.

On Saturday, May 2nd, stop by for some goodies for you, and your dogs and cats. We will also have our friends from Two Dads Dog Training here to answer any questions you may have concerning your dog's behavior.

In addition, we will be donating a percentage of our sales to Angel Ridge Animal Rescue. The more we sell the more we'll donate!

See you May 2nd!

04/22/2026

My S.E.E. Room is in the Petsburgh Magazine! It just came out today. I have been doing these enrichment rooms for several months at Animal Friends and have had great success - many repeat clients too! Our next sessions will be in June, and we are looking at scheduling for 2 full days. We are also adding a special 'twist' to the experience for those dogs that have previously participated. Coming Soon - THE SEARCH TO S.E.E. - Details to Follow Soon!

Dog training for all ages, breeds and sizes! Invest in your relationship with your dog. Working with dogs has been a lifelong passion of mine,  using the most modern scientific methods, all of which are Force and Fear Free. Having worked with shelter dogs for over 12 years and years of private clie...

01/18/2026

REALLY like this book!

11/17/2025

There is nothing natural about large numbers of unfamiliar dogs partaking in high-intensity activity in a dog park, and this shouldn’t be the benchmark for a social dog. If your dog is not their best in such an environment, you are not doing anything wrong. 👏👏 There is nothing wrong with your dog. 👏👏 Your dog is normal. 👏👏

11/17/2025

In case you haven't seen, there's a proposed USD 1.9million settlement in a class action lawsuit in California about "gravely dangerous" shock collars. Amongst other things, the court filings say “In reality, Shock Collar Products are far from safe and harmless. In fact, the use of electric shocks is gravely dangerous to the pets’ physical and psychological well-being.” The class action is about different kinds of shock collars (bark-activated, barriers, fences) and Californians who purchased a shock collar between October 1st 2018 and October 31st 2022 are eligible for the settlement.

Details via the link in bio or https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2025/11/shock-collars-in-dog-training-are.html

11/17/2025

Dog's can respond better to hand signals than verbal cues, meaning dog sign language is a viable option for training any dog.

10/31/2025

SECONDS COUNT
This post is not advocating that dogs meet every other dog, but rather about how to go about it in a safer way, if and when it does happen.

The 3 second rule for dogs meeting each other is used as a guideline to help foster positive introductions, prevent either dog from feeling overwhelmed or trapped and prevent any potential reactivity and stress.

A short 3 second introduction is enough time to provide important information to both dogs.

Enough time and information for dogs to decide – “are you a threat?”, “do I like you?”, “do I want to learn more about you?”, “do I really dislike you?”, “do I want you to go away?” etc. Both dogs may not feel the same way – one may not be happy to engage while the other may want to.

All interactions should ideally happen like this, not just initially. Just like us, dogs can have off days – things like pain, trigger stacking, lack of sleep or a host of other reasons can influence a dog’s emotional state and whether a dog wants to interact or not.

There are countless times I have witnessed meetings or introductions between dogs that have gone on just a few seconds too long and have not ended well.

This can have long lasting effects on future behaviour when meeting other dogs.

Understanding body language is critically important. If we are going to share our lives with another species, protect them, advocate for them and help them feel safe, then we need to understand and respect their language.

The examples in this post of red and green flags are just a few general ones to look out for – there are many more and these will differ depending on the individual dog, context and circumstances.

Here are some resources that provide more detailed information about body language –

The Veterinary Behaviour Centre
https://bit.ly/4hwC8k1

On Talking Terms With Dogs - Calming Signals, 2nd Edition by Turid Rugaas
https://bit.ly/4oftWqW

Make sure those first 3 seconds count – they can make all the difference.