Reward Your Dog Training

11/29/2025

You’ve tried so many things to help your dog with big feelings on walks.

You have a front clip harness so that you can control him. But sometimes he pulls so hard that you barely hang on.

You ask him to sit so that you can watch his trigger. But most of the time he can’t seem to put his butt on the ground.

You bring treats. But sometimes he won’t even take them when you’re passing a trigger.

It is scary, and it feels unsafe.

But what else can you do?

You’re at your wits’ end.

This may be hard to hear but… your training isn’t sticking because it’s *reactive* not *proactive*.

OK, Verena, but what does that meeeeaaaaaaannnnnn???

It means, my friend, that you are trying to build new pathways in your dog’s brain when he’s already overwhelmed and not set up well for learning.

You’re trying to train after the trigger pops up when you two are already feeling some intense feelings.

That is not a great place to learn a new behavior pattern.

And it’s the #1 mistake folks make when training their reactive dog.

So let me tell you how to avoid it with this simple three step formula:

👉Decide what you would like your dog to do *instead of* barking, lunging and growling when he sees the trigger, for example look at you. Then teach him to look at you in a quiet, relaxed environment.

👉Now, practice the alternative behavior behavior with easy distractions - but NOT the trigger. Ask him “Can you look at me while someone is crinkling a bag of chips?” Gradually make the distractions more exciting.

👉Once your dog can do the alternative behavior with a variety of distractions, introduce a trigger in a controlled way. You will tell the helper person, dog, skateboarder, cyclist, etc. what to do (sit, stand, walk, …) and practice the alternative behavior with a controlled trigger.

And now?

With all of your fancy new neural pathways, you and your dog can now take on real life triggers.

Because you have the strength of habit and the confidence that comes with it.

Skip those steps?

The brain and nervous system are working against you.

Want to learn more about how to build strong habits for training success? Drop your questions in the comments!

11/28/2025

Feeling sassy, won't delete later. What are *your* rules for life with your dog? Do the rules serve you? (You know you can change them, right?)

11/27/2025

So many deals to choose from... I hope you decide to support small businesses this season. Maybe mine? 🥰

11/24/2025

It feels selfish to admit it now…

… But I had brought her into my life so she could fulfill my dreams.

💫 Going to the farmers market and showing off my awesome dog
💫 Doing dog sports and having a blast
💫 Chilling on patios and by food carts and spending time with my great dog
💫 Walking in the neighborhood without stress and worry

And now… she was barking at other dogs.

My dream was in danger.

I struggled with her behavior.

Frankly, it scared me.

Because I already had a dog at home who struggled with neighborhood walks.

Who couldn’t go to patios, cafes, or food carts.

Who was not suited to dog sports.

And no way would he ever go to the farmers market.

I was spinning.

Would I be repeating the same pattern with my dog Yggie?

Would people judge me as a dog trainer?

Was I just a failure at raising dogs?

But at some point, I realized what was happening:

I made this about my ego.

Not about her as a complete, full being.

It was more important to me to have a well-behaved dog than to have a happy and healthy dog.

And I was forgetting that she was still very much a baby with a developing brain.

And finally and most importantly, I had forgotten that she wasn’t on this earth to fulfill my dreams.

She was, and is, her own dog.

Her own magnificence and beauty.

This simple mindset shift helped me to change my approach to her barking.

I no longer took her woofs as personal affronts.

I began setting her up for success.

I met her needs.

I treated her like the puppy she was.

I looked at the dog in front of me.

And yes.

I can take her to the farmers market, cafes, patios, busy neighborhoods and all kinds of trails without issues now.

But I was prepared to let it go - to give her the life she deserved.

Are there dreams about your dog you’ve had to let go?

11/22/2025

If you know me, you know that I don’t believe in “quick fixes”.

No magic wands.

Behavior change takes time and all that.

And I still believe that.

BUT.

Hear me out.

This one is as close as it gets to a magic trick.

Picture this:

You’re walking out in the world with your reactive dog.

He spots another dog on the other side of the street…

… and you watch him go to the end of the leash, the hair standing up on his back, as a low growl begins to form in his throat.

You wish you knew what to do as you begin looking for treats.

That’s when the barking begins. FAILLLLLLLLLLLL.

“GAAAAHHHH - WHYYYYY????” (You, probably)

Want a do over?

Here’s what you do instead:

You’re walking out in the world with your reactive dog.

He spots another dog on the other side of the street…

(I know, we’ve been here before!)

… and you gently slide up the leash so you’re standing next to his shoulder.

You turn your core towards him and your shoulder towards the trigger.

You turn your head to look at the dog and say “yep, just a dog”.
Your dog looks up at you.

You smile at him and begin moving away.

(And yes, cookies are a nice addition here. ;))

Sounds too good to be true?

Sure, this will not work when your dog is already in a big barking fit.

Your time to intervene is WHILE he’s assessing the other dog.

Be there with him so that he doesn’t need to figure out the world by himself.

Tell him you got his back.

This is the power of the Supportive Stance.

If you’re not a believer yet… go ahead and give it a try.

I’d love to hear how it works for you!

11/19/2025

Walking your dog can be such a nightmare for you.

When she sees another dog, she immediately starts barking.

And once she starts, you freeze - immediate overwhelm.

So you work incredibly hard to prevent this exact situation.

You carefully choose a location to walk in.

You prepare yummy treats.

Your head is on a swivel, looking around for other dogs.

You’re stressed but holding it together, hoping she won’t pick up on your state of high alert.

Until… you round a corner and see another dog.

GAME OVER.

Your dog starts barking.

Your nerves are jangled by the shrill sound.

You brace for impact as she lunges into the leash.

You do your best to pull her away.

And you feel like an absolute failure.

- - - - - -

But you know what?

You are *not* a failure because your dog had a reactive moment - not even close.

Because what’s much more important is what you do now.

Barky outbursts are simply an invitation to reassess and grow.

I know I know I knowwwwwww: Stop it with the new agey mindset nonsense.

Can’t stop, won’t stop, though.

Because there’s hard science behind it.

Once your dog has a reactive moment, here’s what you do:

🤔Escape! Leave the situation with a well practiced, gentle emergency exit strategy. When you and your pup know what to do and how to do it, you will both be calmer.

🤔Regulate! Once you’re out of danger, it’s time to regulate your and her nervous systems. Some time to play, sniff or play a pattern game for her. A breathing pattern, some tapping or a mindful moment for you - until you’re calm again.

🤔Perspective! This is a big event for you, but for the person with the other dog… it’s just a moment in time. Their life goes on. So does yours. You’re ok, and your dog is ok. Barking is not a punishable offense.

🤔Reframe! As you’re working on your dog’s reactivity, your dog very likely will have *some* reactions. What matters much more is what you learn from the outburst. You can onboard new skills, train for the moment, tighten up your management, etc. In short: useful information for you!

How does it feel to you when your dog has a barky outburst on walks? I'd love to hear from you!

11/15/2025

You’ve read about bringing treats on your walks to distract your dog from her triggers.

Sometimes she eats the treats and moves on after seeing a trigger.

But more often, she refuses to eat and has a huge barking fit.

Sometimes, she eats the treat and then lunges towards the dog on the other side of the street.

And if you forget to bring the treats… oof.

You love your dog, but she’s making you feel unsafe when she has those big outbursts.

Here’s an uncomfortable truth about treats:

They're a great tool - when applied correctly.

But they’re not a magic pill.

Instead of just throwing cheese at your dog’s reactive behavior, you need this 4 step framework to rewire your dog’s behavior from the ground up:

⭐ Healing the body
Nobody is on their best behavior when they’re not feeling good… The first step is checking for any underlying health concerns, such as digestive issues, allergies or pain, so that your dog can be her healthiest and best self.

⭐Living a full life
If your dog isn’t getting to do things she loves and enjoys, she feels frustrated. Frustration makes it hard for her to behave in regulated ways. That’s why the second step of the framework is meeting your dog’s needs - for a life worth living.

⭐Building a catalog of skills
Of course you want your dog to do the *right* thing when she sees her trigger. But has she truly learned this skill in different contexts? Skill building is a critical step to help your dog make better decisions around her triggers.

⭐Learning to deal with emotions
Finally, it’s time to teach your dog what to do around the trigger. And here’s the true magic: If you’ve fully explored the previous steps, this last piece of the puzzle will fall into place. Now she can finally learn how to handle her triggers in healthy ways - and you can help her do so.

So yeah. Treats are great.

But they only work when your dog is healthy, fulfilled, and skilled - and when you’ve helped her cope with her triggers.

Want to learn more about this holistic approach to reactivity training?

Share your struggles in the comments below.

And do share this post with a friend if you think they could use this information!

11/12/2025

11/10/2025

Oh yes, you’ve read all those social media posts advertising that “with just a bit *more*...” you too can “fix” your reactive dog.

You know that the constant barking, lunging and pulling on walks is not good for him - or you.

You do want solutions.

But here you are - with no more to give.

You’re exhausted.

You’re doing a lot of things to help your dog. You’re….

…following a bunch of trainers on social media. But you’re not always sure who’s right when you read conflicting things. Trying to parse the information is confusing and time-consuming.

…trying different approaches to see what could work. But you’re wondering if you’re doing things correctly. Sometimes you see results, sometimes nothing works.

…constantly worried that you’re not enough. That you *should* be doing more, working harder. But you’re tired. And you feel isolated with nobody to talk to.

My friend, that sounds so hard.

I love love love the dedication you have for helping your dog!!!

But sorting through a bunch of approaches, throwing spaghetti at the wall… ain’t it.

You deserve to feel seen and supported.

What you need is a tried and tested approach that gives proven results.

A guide, someone who can coach and mentor you along the way.

And a group of aligned dog guardians who share your struggles.

Are you ready to make a change? Then watch this space! I’ll be launching some amazing resources coming your way in the next few weeks.

And… I always have your back.

Wanna share what you and your big feelings dog are struggling with right now?

09/06/2025

Listen… I get it.

You have big plans and goals for life with your dog.

You really want to help him walk calmly past other dogs instead of lunging and growling.

So that you both can feel safe.

So that you can open up his world.

So that you experience a calmer, more peaceful time together.

And you deserve this.

But if you skip this important step, your efforts won’t bring the results you seek.

You need to build a strong connection with your dog first.

Here’s why:

A reactive dog struggles living in the world.

His nervous system overreacts to other dogs, bikes, skateboards, and joggers.

And when he’s straining at the end of the leash, barking and lunging, in his mind he is all alone.

It’s his responsibility to handle what life throws at him.

He’s stepping up to defend himself, and you.

Real talk:

If you want your dog to turn towards you when things are hard, you need to teach him how to do that when things are chill first.

In a quiet environment, like your home or yard, stand or sit somewhere near your dog.

Be a bit boring.

Wait for him to look at you.

And thennnnnn… PARTY TIME!

Praise, treats, love.

Show him that looking at you gets him exactly what he wants.

Affection, acknowledgement, support.

Exactly what he craves.

Be there for him in all situations so that you can draw on this skill when it counts most.

How do you acknowledge your dog’s bids for connection?

09/05/2025

You are already rattled.

On your last walk, your dog blew up at a skateboarder coming by.

Right after your saw them and your thoughts went to “please please please, don’t let her bark and lunge.”

…she pulled into the leash with all her considerable power, barking and growling.

It was so scary.

This seems too BIG for you to take on yourself.

A friend told you you need to send her to an expensive 4 week board and train.

So she can learn *not to bark.*

But you don’t need to send her away.

You just need to learn how to help her.

Let’s really break down how to repattern your dog’s behavioral response.

OK, barking and lunging is no good.

Fair.

One question I’d like for you to ask yourself is…

“Does your dog know what you would like her *to do* when a skateboarder zooms by?

Instead of the barking and lunging?

Probably not yet.

So… Go ahead - picture it in your mind.

Maybe you’d like for her to move to your left side?

Yes! This is a behavior you can teach.

Teach her how to line up at your left side.

And practice it until it’s second nature for both of you.

Once you both have muscle memory, get a friend with a skateboard to help you.

Have them skate by at a comfortable distance, slowly.

And ask her to line up by her left side.

And once that’s smooth?

Have them come a bit closer… and closer.

Until you both have the skills to try it out on a walk.

See?

You were *enough* all along.

You just needed a bit of information.

If you need help breaking things down…. Let me know what you’re struggling with in the comments.

08/04/2025

I got upset by something on the Internet today.

Yeah, I know.

It was a post on a dog forum.

A new puppy, an overwhelmed family.

The family said that the puppy was crying.

All the time.

Especially when her favorite person left the room.

And they were doing what they thought was right.

When she cried, they ignored her.

They didn’t talk to her.

They didn’t look at her.

And friends - it broke me to hear this.

Why?

Because…this puppy is a baby.

Except she’s a baby who just lost everything she ever knew.

She’s in a new home.

New smells, sights, sounds, people.

No mom, no siblings.

What she needs, more than anything, is knowing that someone is there for her.

That she has a home.

A new family.

That she will have enough to eat.

That she can sleep soundly in a restful place.

That someone hears her when she cries.

That someone sees her when she struggles.

That her family will come back to her.

And learning this takes time and love.

Of course you will train your puppy.

But the first lesson should be:

“You are safe. You are loved.”

Always.