17/05/2025
⁉️”If my dog’s reactive, why would my trainer advise avoiding other dogs?”
A very valid question — and one that comes up often.
If your dog is reactive and you’re just starting your training journey, this might be advice you’ve already heard, especially if you’re working with a trainer who uses predominantly positive methods.
But why avoid other dogs at first?
There are several important reasons your trainer might recommend this approach early on:
• To build your handling skills and your dog’s training foundation. Before adding distractions like other dogs, it’s key that both you and your dog have the basics down — such as focus, engagement, and a few reliable cues.
• To prevent rehearsing the reactive behavior. Every time your dog reacts, they’re practicing and reinforcing that response. Avoiding situations that trigger reactivity helps prevent the behavior from becoming more ingrained.
• To allow for calm, controlled learning. Introducing triggers like other dogs too soon — without structure — can overwhelm your dog and make it harder to teach new behaviors. Controlled exposure, when the dog and handler are both ready, is far more effective.
Remember: avoiding other dogs now doesn’t mean avoiding them forever.
Most trainers use a gradual desensitization and counterconditioning approach — reintroducing triggers at a distance and intensity your dog can cope with. This ensures:
• You have the skills to manage the situation calmly and confidently.
• Your dog can remain under threshold — able to focus, disengage, and respond to cues like “leave it,” “come,” or “with me.”
It’s all about setting you and your dog up for success — building confidence, reducing stress, and working together as a team.
Don’t be discouraged when you hear this advice, it’s short term management for long term success. ❤️
