What Should I Do When My Dog Reacts?

If your dog barks or lunges at people, other dogs, or noises, don’t panic. That reaction is usually based in fear, frustration, or excitement, not because they’re being “bad.” Your job is to teach them what to do instead.

We use operant conditioning to guide behaviour. That means we clearly show the dog when a choice is good (and reward it) and when it's not (punish it). For example, if your dog sees another dog and stays calm - no barking or pulling - that's what we call a “clean rep.” You should mark that moment clearly and reward it. Dogs learn best from these simple, repeated successes.

Punishment comes in +P and -P (positive punishment and negative punishment). However be careful with positive punishment (see operant conditioning), if a pressure does not alter the behaviour, it acts as a reinforcer. This is why you cannot punish your way out of reactivity.

Another thing to be conscious of is rehearsal of behaviours. If your dog is able to practice reactivity in the house, or the garden, then tackle that first, and then tackle your outdoor reactivity. Barking in the garden, out of the window, or at the door when someone knocks, these are the fuel for your outdoor behaviour.

We also use *existential feeding, *letting the dog earn their meals through work. Instead of giving food for free, we use it to build focus and communication. Every meal becomes part of your training plan, making the lessons stick faster.

📩 Want help creating calm, reliable behaviour on walks? Reach out, we’re ready to help you and your dog succeed.