11/03/2026
There are feelings happening on BOTH ends of the leash. 🧡🐾
Reactivity is often misunderstood. When we hear the word “reactive,” we tend to picture a dog lunging, barking, or growling at another dog. But reactivity can look like so much more.
A reactive response happens when a dog has an unusually intense response to something in their environment. That might look like barking and lunging toward another dog, freezing in place, desperately trying to run away, or becoming so excited that they simply cannot contain themselves.
And underneath those behaviors? There are feelings.
Fear. Frustration. Excitement. Uncertainty. Overwhelm.
But there’s another set of feelings we don’t talk about nearly enough. The ones happening on the other end of the leash.
Embarrassment when your dog starts barking in public. Anxiety when you spot another dog approaching. Frustration when a walk doesn’t go as planned. Sadness when you see other people enjoying experiences with their dogs that feel impossible for yours.
Sometimes, both ends of the leash are just trying to make it through the same stressful moment.
Here’s what we want you to know: Your dog isn’t giving you a hard time. They may be having a hard time. And you deserve support navigating those moments, too.
Reactivity isn’t a reflection of how much you love your dog or how hard you’ve tried. It’s a behavior we can work to understand, and with thoughtful, reward-based training, we can help dogs develop new emotional responses and coping skills.
At The Bark, we believe training should build confidence on BOTH ends of the leash. Because progress isn’t just about having a dog who barks less. It’s about helping you both feel safer, more connected, and more capable of navigating the world together.
And that is something worth celebrating. 🧡
