08/05/2026
it’s HARD for dogs to turn away from their triggers !!
in the reaction, they are trying to process and put out information. when we pull them out of it before they’re ready, in can create more confusion, frustration and competition between us and our dog.
not to mention it can also accidentally invite unwanted dogs into their space.
so what’s the alternative? meet the dog in their reaction or fixation and create a social response to you. stand with them, talk to them, be with them, validate the emotion they’re experiencing, breathe together.
then propose an alternative behavior, like moving away, when it feels right rather than forcing it during the explosion.
don’t get me wrong, recall is awesome !!! and sometimes big explosive reactions need interrupting or moving away immediately for safety (this happens with ace sometimes).
but recall is not always the answer.
