When I’m working with a reactive dog, one of my top priorities is to build the handler’s confidence first, because their energy drives the dog’s behaviour.

Tension in the body creates tension on the leash. In turn, the dog [understandably] interprets that tension as a need to be on alert. The result is a dog who is in a state of constant tension and hyper-vigilance that makes them perceive everything around them as unsafe. The lack of confidence in the handler exacerbates that, and voila, you have a vicious cycle that feels impossible to get out of.

To help build handler confidence, the videos I share of our sessions are purposely designed to show their successes – those “I did it!” moments in which they handled a trigger situation calmly and confidently, and their dog responded by following them. I do this, because my clients do struggle with confidence [which is understandable, in light of what they’ve been dealing with], they do watch those videos, and they need to see themselves succeeding. When they see visual proof, that gives them greater confidence – which, in turn, builds trust and confidence in their dog.

So, when you’re over on my YouTube channel watching videos that seem to rarely show the negatives and the struggles, now you know why that is. Have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.

Today marks my 10th year helping dogs and their owners learn how to create and maintain lasting, lifelong bonds of trust, love, and respect with each other. Whether you’ve trained with me, referred a friend, or just cheered me on, THANK YOU for choosing me to be part of your journey.

Drop a note in the comments if I’ve helped you and your pup, and tag people you know who you believe need me. Have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.