Does your dog lunge, bark, or overreact on walks? You’re not alone—reactivity is one of the most common struggles for dog owners. The good news? You can break the cycle and regain control with the right approach.
Here are five simple steps to help your dog become calmer and more focused.
This may sound ridiculous, but hear me out! Reactivity often builds up from stress, and when your dog reacts, it’s their way of releasing that tension. Over time, this behaviour becomes self-rewarding and turns into a habit.
✅ Give your dog a full week of rest by avoiding overstimulating environments like busy parks or crowded areas.
✅ Instead, focus on in-home obedience and structured drills to build confidence in a controlled setting.
🔗 Check out this article on how sleep affects dogs:
Dogs Lack Sleep? Here’s Why They Get Grumpier
Obedience training isn’t just about control—it creates positive associations and helps your dog feel more secure.
Imagine this: Your dog spots another dog and tenses up. You say “Middle”, and they immediately run between your legs. Instead of reacting, they focus on you.
❓ Does my dog listen to me at home?
❓ What about around other dogs, people, visitors, or food?
If the answer is no, it’s time to build stronger focus and engagement. The goal is to make YOU more rewarding than the distractions around them.
✅ Down – Encourages calmness.
✅ Watch – Teaches eye contact on command.
✅ Middle – Redirects and provides security.
✅ Heel – Keeps them focused on walks.
The more reliable these commands become, the easier it will be to prevent reactions before they happen.
A tired mind is just as important as a tired body! Mental stimulation helps:
✔️ Lower stress levels.
✔️ Release feel-good endorphins.
✔️ Improve focus without adding more physical exercise.
1️⃣ Mental work tires dogs out: 10–15 minutes of mental stimulation can be as exhausting as a 30-minute walk.
2️⃣ It releases feel-good chemicals: Activities like sniffing or problem-solving boost dopamine, reducing stress and anxiety.
3️⃣ Variety is key: New games, toys, and puzzles prevent boredom and keep your dog engaged.
4️⃣ Sniffing is natural enrichment: Letting your dog sniff on walks relaxes them and lowers their heart rate.
5️⃣ It builds confidence: Mental stimulation helps shy or anxious dogs feel accomplished and more secure.
🐾 Scatter feeding: Toss their food around for them to find.
🐾 Stuff a Kong with kibble, peanut butter, or other treats.
🐾 Use lick mats to provide a calming activity.
🐾 Create a scavenger hunt: Hide food in everyday items like towels, yogurt pots, or egg boxes. Be creative—it’s fun for both you and your dog!
Impulse control is your dog’s ability to stay calm and composed in different situations. The better their impulse control, the more they can self-regulate, understand their environment, and build confidence. This makes a huge difference in managing reactivity.
✅ Place Training: Teach your dog to stay on a mat or bed. Only reward them while they remain there. If they move off, guide them back. Increase difficulty by adding distractions like turning your back, jogging in place, or tossing toys/food.
✅ Tug or Flirt Pole Games: Play tug, but pause often to practice commands like “sit,” “down,” or “out.” Use a release word like “free” to resume the game. This helps them learn control even when excited.
✅ Focus Drills: Can your dog look at you while you hold food? What about ignoring food on the ground and coming back to you? These exercises strengthen their attention and self-control, making it easier to keep them engaged in real-life situations.
💡 Practicing these exercises regularly will help your dog handle stress better and stay focused—even in stimulating environments.
Reactivity is often triggered when a dog becomes overwhelmed. The key to managing this is recognizing their threshold—the point where they stop paying attention to you and start reacting. Once they hit this point, reactivity is inevitable.
🚫 Avoid pushing your dog past their threshold—if they’re too close, they can’t think.
✅ Give them enough space to remain calm and responsive to your cues.
✅ Practise training at a safe distance first, then gradually decrease it over time.
✅ Avoid overwhelming situations until their confidence improves.
By carefully managing distance, you set your dog up for success and allow them to develop better coping skills. Over time, their ability to stay calm around triggers will improve, and you’ll have more control in stressful situations.
Struggling to make progress on your own? I offer 1-to-1 training and residential training to help you get real, lasting results. Whether you need hands-on coaching or an intensive programme, I’ve got you covered.
📩 Send me a message to book a session and start transforming your dog’s behaviour today!
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