Reactive Dogs
Introduction
Sometimes you want to help your dog emotionally – and although it would be great if your dog can sit, stay, and come when called, you need something more. You need to help your dog feel calm seeing other dogs, or understand that people are not going to hurt her. You want to know your dog feels safe enough to not react. Or, you want to know your dog will not hurt anyone on purpose.
We can help you!
Helping fearful (often labeled as aggressive) and confused dogs with gentle and positive methods is our passion. Our journey of understanding reactivity in dogs is ongoing. Our professional certification program was just the first step. Since graduating, we have continued to study with the most innovative trainers and behaviorists to learn the best and most kind methods for changing the emotional state of dogs. And, this journey is ongoing because there is a surge of interest among the dog professionals throughout the world.
How does our program work?
In a nutshell, we help the dogs start thinking instead of reacting. In simplest terms, we help the dogs shift from the more primal, reactionary part of their brain to the thinking area.
The reactive brain is the survival response – and practicing the reactive behavior can make the reactive response stronger and stronger. So, it’s important to start intervening before the reactive brain takes over. We want to work at a level where the dog is still thinking “hmm, is that something I should be worried about?”
What we do can be as simple as giving the dog a treat in order to shift the direction of his thoughts. And, if pairing a treat with the sight of a “trigger” is repeated over time, the dog’s emotional state can change from fear to curiosity.
But it’s usually more complicated than this. The dog’s people will need training to understand their dog’s emotional and calming body language signals. The timing of when to mark a particular behavior and give the treat needs to be honed. We’ll need to make sure the dog’s life is filled with enrichment, good sleep, and minimal stress. And, just coming up with a management plan to keep a dog from practicing reactivity can be quite complex.
So, we encourage you to contact us for more details. We start our lessons with an assessment and/or consultation at our training center – and go forward from there. In rare cases, we might even recommend working alongside a veterinary behaviorist.
We look forward to hearing from you and just want to let you know there is hope for your reactive dog. These reactions are learned and strengthened over time. So, with even more time and a specific program, we believe it is possible to change a dog’s behavior for the better!
Our Program
Calm & Confident is a specific approach designed to help over reactive animals. Kinna & Gene developed this method based on the work of Turid Rugaas (author of On Talking Terms with Dogs), Emma Parsons (trainer who started Click to Calm), and veterinary behaviorists such as Amber Batson in the UK.
The method works well with most animals and with most levels of reactivity — from nervousness to intense fear.
Kinna personally met Turid Rugaas in Norway and was invited by Turid to spend two days observing Turid’s reactive dog research project. She also spent one on one time with Turid after being invited to Turid’s home in Norway. Gene & Kinna have also completed a year long course called “Aggression in Dogs” taught by Dr. Amber Batson.
Both Kinna and Gene have applied their Calm & Confident program successfully to help over 300 dogs who have been reactive to people, dogs, household or environmental noises, or other disturbing stimuli. They’ve also applied the program to situations with nervous and/or reactive horses – and even with a cat who displayed reactivity towards people.
Qualifications
2024: Sensory Integration for Dogs with Els Vidts (currently enrolled)
2024: Positive Intelligence 7 Week Course with Shirzad Chamine (currently enrolled)
2023: Aggression in Dogs (10 month course) with Amber Batson, VMD
2022: Pet Dog Trainers of Europe Conference – Positive Truffle Hunting, Hand Signal, Scent Work for Puppies
2022: Dog Symposium (2 Days)
2022: Trauma In Dogs Seminar (2 Days)
2021-2022: Puppy Power Course with Amber Batson, VMD (42 hours)
2021: Karen Pryor Academy’s Clicker Training Expo (3 days)
2020: Concept Training with Ken Ramirez
2020: “Barking Mad” Abnormal Behavior in Dogs with Amber Batson, VMD
2020: “Cavorting Canines” Exercise in Dogs with Amber Batson, VMD
2020: “Troublesome Teens” Adolescence in Dogs with Amber Batson, VMD
2020: Pet Dog Trainers of Europe Online Summit (3 days)
2020: Fear Free Veterinary Course Certification
2019: KPA Aggression and Dogs Webinar with Ken Ramirez
2019: KPA Dog Aggression case study Webinar with Ken Ramirez
2018: Dog Symposium, Oslo, Norway with Turid Rugaas, Dr. Amber Batson, Anne Lill Kvam (2 days)
2018: Imitation Training “Do As I Do” with Claudia Fugazzia
2018: KPA Webinar with Hannah Brannigan
2018: Separation Anxiety Seminar with Malena DeMartini
2017: Canine Fitness Webinar with Leslie Eide, DVM
2016: Smart Reinforcement: Reinforcement Substitutes with Ken Ramirez
2016: Introduction to Agility Handling with Susan Garrett
2016: Agility Basics with Nicole Larocco Skeehan
What People Are Saying
I was visiting my Mother who has this big picture/glass door facing her back yard. This is always a little bit tricky for Solveig when we visit because it sucks her into reacting to critters, people, etc. in a big way. The other day, the landscapers showed up with lawn mowers and weed wackers early morning. Solveig went crazy for a minute, but after I told her to leave it a few times (did not have treats, clicker etc.), thinking she just was not going to let up until they left probably, she went and got a bone that until now she had been ignoring and quietly brought it to the window, then sat down to chew it facing the lawn crew and their machinery in front of her. She just quietly chewed on her bone until they left. :-) I love that Solveig made the decision to get the bone on her own, like she knew it would help her relax.
So much patience and Voila!
Thanks, Karen
I can't thank you enough for the time, effort and energy you and Gene have put in for working with Brutus and me! He met my sister-in-law’s friend, we hiked up Ampersand and Brutus was very well behaved! He wasn't jumping over everyone he was calm and collected, always checking for reassurance! He would default sit and lay down, saw 3 dogs and many people, very little reaction where as in the past I would have to drag him away! He default sat as a jogger went up the mountain. He met my sister-in-law’s friend as I explained he was just slow to warm up, he was polite and just happy to get pet. He had little reaction to a small dog and 2 puppies and he was quick to continue forward without jumping or barking. He walked by people while heeling close by with no attempt to jump. Thank you! So happy our paths crossed, and I see a bright future for Brutus.
~Ashley with her dog Brutus who could be reactive to other people and dogs
Kane went on his first walk since 2020 with another dog (other than his sister Kayuh) today! He did GREAT. The beginning was rocky, but once he had a task, hot dog pieces, and did all of the things he loves (I.e swimming) he felt much more comfortable being around Ivy (a 12 year old pitbull of some friends of ours). I attached a few photos!
All the best! Jackie & Kane