255 | Stop Training Your Reactive Dog!

Hey Dog Lover 🐾What happens when two dogs who've always gotten along suddenly get into a fight?What do you do when your dog is so afraid they won't even take a treat?And why does your dog seem to listen beautifully at home, but the moment you step outside, it's like you don't even exist?Today, Paisley is joining me for another episode of Questions You Never Knew You Asked!We're digging into real questions inspired by conversations in our Living Beyond Obedience Facebook community, from navigating relationships between dogs to helping fearful dogs find their confidence and understanding why everything seems to fall apart when the environment changes.And, as always, we're challenging some of the conventional thinking around dog training and behaviour.Because sometimes the answers aren't found in teaching our dogs something new, but in changing the way we understand what's happening.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxox🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Learn how to build trust, develop influence, and become a meaningful part of your dog's world through my six-month online program, supportive community, and monthly group coaching. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz! https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog! https://beyondobedience.ca/blogRESOURCESContact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook CommunityResources → https://beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://beyondobedience.ca/storeCONNECT WITH ME!Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month online program with group coaching, a supportive community, and a relationship-first approach to life with your dog. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearlessMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter http://www.shawntrotter.com/

Hey Dog Lover 🐾What do you do when your dog starts reacting?Do you immediately start asking them to sit, look at you, leave it, or do something—anything—other than what they're doing?And what if all that effort to control the behaviour is causing you to miss something incredibly important?When our dogs react, it's natural to focus on what they're doing.We watch them. We anticipate their next move. We try to redirect, reward, correct, or manage the behaviour before things get out of hand.And when that doesn't work?We're usually told we need more training.But what if the most important work you could do with your reactive dog has very little to do with obedience?In this episode, we're exploring a different way to think about reactivity, the role we play in our dogs' experiences, and why what happens outside those difficult moments might matter more than what we do in the middle of them.Because there's a big difference between managing your dog's behaviour and developing the ability to influence it.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxox🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Learn how to build trust, develop influence, and become a meaningful part of your dog's world through my six-month online program, supportive community, and monthly group coaching. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz! https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog! https://beyondobedience.ca/blogRESOURCESContact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook CommunityResources → https://beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://beyondobedience.ca/storeCONNECT WITH ME!Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month online program with group coaching, a supportive community, and a relationship-first approach to life with your dog. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearlessMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter http://www.shawntrotter.com/

Hey Dog Lover 🐾Have you tried everything to fix your dog's behaviour?Does it feel like no matter how much training you do, you're still dealing with the same problems?And what if more training isn't actually what your dog needs?Maybe your dog is reactive. Maybe they pull on the leash, lose their mind when someone comes to the door, or simply don't seem to listen when it matters most.So you do what everyone tells you to do.You train.You try different methods, practise different exercises, and work harder to get the behaviour you're looking for.But what happens when your dog knows all the commands and you're STILL struggling?In this episode, I'm sharing a realization I recently had about my German Shepherd, Gunther, that's got me thinking about the difference between obedience and communication.Because we've become so accustomed to measuring our relationships with dogs through their ability to follow commands that we might be overlooking something far more important.And sometimes the answer isn't another training technique.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxox🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Tired of trying one training method after another? Discover a different approach focused on trust, communication, leadership, and building a relationship that makes everyday life easier. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz! https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog! https://beyondobedience.ca/blogRESOURCESContact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook CommunityResources → https://beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://beyondobedience.ca/storeCONNECT WITH ME!Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month online program with group coaching, a supportive community, and a relationship-first approach to life with your dog. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearlessMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter http://www.shawntrotter.com/

Hey Dog Lover 🐾Is your dog spoiled rotten?Does letting your dog sleep in your bed, showering them with affection, or treating them like another member of the family mean you're creating a spoiled dog?And who gets to decide what spoiling a dog actually means?We've all heard the warnings. Don't let your dog on the furniture. Don't give them too much attention. Don't let them get away with everything.But what if we've been looking at this whole idea of spoiling our dogs from the wrong perspective?I mean, we love our dogs! Of course we want to give them wonderful lives. We want them to be happy, comfortable, and have everything they could possibly need.But is there a difference between what we think makes our dogs happy and what actually matters to them?In this episode, we're challenging some long-held beliefs about spoiling dogs, exploring the difference between love and fulfilment, and asking whether some of the things we've been told are problems are really problems at all.Because maybe spoiling your dog isn't quite what you think it is.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxox🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Discover how to better understand your dog, build trust, and create a relationship that makes life together easier and more enjoyable. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz! https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog! https://beyondobedience.ca/blogRESOURCESContact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook CommunityResources → https://beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://beyondobedience.ca/storeCONNECT WITH ME!Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month online program with group coaching, a supportive community, and a relationship-first approach to life with your dog. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearlessMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter http://www.shawntrotter.com/

Hey Dog Lover 🐾What if the problem you've been working so hard to fix with your dog isn't actually a problem for your dog?Stop the barking. Stop the pulling. Stop the jumping. Stop the digging. Stop the chasing.We're constantly being told how to fix our dogs and change their behaviour.But have you ever stopped to ask yourself whether your dog actually thinks there's a problem?Because sometimes our dogs are genuinely struggling. They're frightened, overwhelmed, uncertain, or uncomfortable, and their behaviour is an expression of what they're experiencing.And sometimes?They're having the time of their lives while we're standing there pulling our hair out!Think about the dog who wants to chase squirrels, sniff every blade of grass, or dig holes in your garden.From their perspective, everything might be absolutely wonderful!From yours? Not so much.And that's where things get interesting.In this episode, we're exploring three questions:Is this a problem for my dog? Is it a problem for me? Or is it a problem for both of us?Because the answer changes how we need to approach the behaviour.We'll talk about the difference between supporting a dog who's struggling and guiding a dog who's doing something they genuinely enjoy.We'll also take a closer look at our own expectations. Does the behaviour really need to change? And if it does, does it need to stop entirely, or could we change where, when, and how it happens?Of course, sometimes the answer really does have to be no. Safety matters. Boundaries matter. And learning to live together means finding a balance between what our dogs want and what we need.But understanding why your dog wants to do something doesn't mean you have to allow it. And just because you don't like a behaviour doesn't automatically mean it needs fixing.Sometimes helping your dog means changing how they feel.Sometimes it means changing what they do.And sometimes it means changing what YOU expect.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxox🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Stop guessing what your dog needs and start becoming the partner they can actually trust. https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz! https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog! https://beyondobedience.ca/blogRESOURCESContact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook CommunityResources → https://beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://beyondobedience.ca/storeCONNECT WITH ME!Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month group coaching program focused on trust, confidence, leadership, and building a relationship that makes everyday life easier. https://beyondobedience.caMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter http://www.shawntrotter.com/

Hey Dog Lover 🐾When was the last time you and your dog did absolutely nothing?No training. No enrichment activities. No games, adventures, or walks with a purpose.Just... nothing.Recently, I attended a yoga retreat in beautiful Summerville, Nova Scotia, the weekend before my CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp. The timing couldn't have been worse. I had a million things to do, and taking time away felt like the last thing I should be doing.But I went anyway.And what I discovered about the importance of slowing down, being still, and giving myself permission to do absolutely nothing got me thinking about our dogs.We're constantly being encouraged to give our dogs more. More exercise. More enrichment. More mental stimulation. More opportunities to explore, sniff, play, and use their brains.And don't get me wrong. I LOVE all of those things!But have we become so focused on giving our dogs fulfilling lives that we've forgotten the importance of simply being?In this episode, we're talking about the difference between being still and actually being settled, why even our busiest dogs need opportunities to switch off, and how our own discomfort with doing nothing might be influencing what we expect from our dogs.I'll also share one of my favourite practices, BE WITH, and why learning to share space with your dog without an agenda can be such a valuable part of your relationship.Because a fulfilling life doesn't necessarily mean doing more.It's about having room for all of it. Including absolutely nothing.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxox🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣🐾 Explore Fearless Framework! Ready to stop guessing what your dog needs and start building a relationship based on trust, confidence, and understanding? https://beyondobedience.ca/fearless🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz! https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog! https://beyondobedience.ca/blogRESOURCEShttps://beyondobedience.ca/fearlessContact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook CommunityResources → https://beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://beyondobedience.ca/storeCONNECT WITH ME!Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together. https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world. https://beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to move beyond obedience and become someone worth following? Explore Fearless Framework, my six-month group coaching program designed to help you understand your dog, build trust, and create a better life together. https://beyondobedience.caMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotter http://www.shawntrotter.com/

Hey Dog Lover 🐾Is having an obedient dog the same thing as having influence over your dog?Not necessarily.Have you ever stopped to think about WHY you're asking your dog to do something? Is it because it's necessary, because it helps your dog navigate a situation, or simply because you expect them to listen?In this episode, I'm sharing a little encounter I had at the feed store with a very happy chocolate Lab and an interaction that made me say, out loud, "Ooh, gross!"And no, this isn't about whether asking your dog to sit is right or wrong.It's about something much bigger.The difference between obedience and influence.We're talking about what happens when we become so focused on getting our dogs to do what they're told that we forget to pay attention to what they're actually experiencing.Because influence isn't about controlling every moment or demanding compliance.It's about understanding your dog, recognizing what's happening around you, and making decisions that help the two of you navigate life together.And sometimes, the most important question isn't whether your dog listened.It's whether you were listening to your dog.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxoxRESOURCES🐾 Join me for the FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp!October 20th, 21st & 22ndhttps://beyondobedience.ca/bootcamp🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz!https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog!https://beyondobedience.ca/blogCONNECT WITH ME!Contact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook Communityhttps://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceResources → https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://www.beyondobedience.ca/store🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together.https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world.https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd. Today's our final day!https://beyondobedience.ca/bootcampMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotterhttp://www.shawntrotter.com

Hey Dog Lover 🐾What happens when you don’t have a treat?Or your dog can’t have one?What happens when the equipment you usually rely on isn’t available—or when life hands you a situation you’ve never actually trained for?Let me be clear: I use treats. I use equipment. And I train my dogs.This isn’t an anti-treat episode.It’s a conversation about what we build underneath all of those things.In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between teaching your dog useful skills and building the foundation that helps the two of you navigate real life together.Because life with dogs isn’t a controlled training session.Eventually, the loose dog appears. Someone unexpectedly comes through the door. Something scares your dog. Your dog isn’t interested in the food in your pocket. Or you find yourself in a situation you never practiced for.And then what?We’ll talk about communication, influence, relevance, learning to read the dog in front of you, and why I don’t want a treat, tool, or training technique to be the reason this works.Use the treat. Use the equipment. Teach the skills.But build something underneath them.Because when the treat isn’t there, the equipment fails, or life hands you something you never trained for, I still want you and your dog to have each other.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxox🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣🐾 Join me for the FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp! October 20th, 21st & 22ndhttps://beyondobedience.ca/bootcamp🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz!https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog!https://beyondobedience.ca/blogRESOURCESContact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook Communityhttps://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceResources → https://beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://beyondobedience.ca/storeCONNECT WITH ME!Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together.https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog’s unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world.https://beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd.👉 https://beyondobedience.ca/bootcampMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotterhttp://www.shawntrotter.com/

Hey Dog Lover 🐾Have you ever wondered if YOU might be the reason your dog isn't getting better?Maybe you've tried the training, followed the advice, bought the equipment, and done everything you thought you weresupposed to do.And yet, your dog is still struggling.And somewhere along the way, you start wondering whether you're doing something wrong. Whether you're making things worse. Or whether your dog might actually be better off with somebody else.Ouch. That's a tough place to find yourself.In this episode, we're having a conversation that I think an awful lot of dog lovers need to hear.We're talking about the guilt, the second-guessing, and the pressure we put on ourselves when life with our dogs doesn't look the way we imagined.We'll explore the difference between taking responsibility and taking the blame, why struggling with your dog doesn't automatically mean you're failing them, and how a little curiosity can help you start seeing things differently.And I'm sharing one of my favourite questions to ask when things aren't going quite the way we'd hoped:How interesting!Because being part of what's happening doesn't mean you're the problem. It means you have an opportunity to be part of what changes.And maybe, just maybe, you're not the reason your dog can't get better.Maybe you're one of the reasons they can.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxoxRESOURCES🐾 Join me for the FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp!October 20th, 21st & 22ndhttps://beyondobedience.ca/bootcamp🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz!https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog!https://beyondobedience.ca/blogCONNECT WITH ME!Contact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook Communityhttps://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceResources → https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://www.beyondobedience.ca/store🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together.https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog's unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world.https://www.beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd.https://beyondobedience.ca/bootcampMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotterhttp://www.shawntrotter.com

Hey Dog Lover 🐾When did living with your dog stop being fun?Maybe you got a dog because you pictured walks, adventures, companionship, road trips, or quiet nights curled up together. But somewhere along the way, life became less about enjoying your dog and more about managing them.Who’s coming over? Which route can we walk? What happens if we see another dog? Can I bring them? Should I leave them home? What if something goes wrong?And little by little, your world together starts getting smaller.In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when managing your dog begins to take over your relationship—and how to start finding your way back to actually enjoying life together.Because the answer isn’t necessarily throwing your dog into bigger, harder situations and hoping for the best.If your world has gotten smaller, start small and build out.I’ll give you some simple ways to start reconnecting with your dog at home, in your backyard, and eventually out in the world—while paying attention to what your dog actually enjoys and building from the places where you’re already successful together.Because the goal isn’t to create a dog who can go everywhere and do everything.The goal is to build a life that you and your dog actually enjoy living together.Hope you enjoy this one!Tracy xoxox🐾 NEXT STEPS 👣🐾 Join me for the FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp! October 20th, 21st & 22ndhttps://beyondobedience.ca/bootcamp🐾 Take the Dogonality Quiz!https://beyondobedience.ca/quiz🐾 Read the Beyond Obedience Blog!https://beyondobedience.ca/blogRESOURCESContact → [email protected] → https://beyondobedience.ca/podcastConnect → Living Beyond Obedience Facebook Communityhttps://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceResources → https://beyondobedience.ca/quizMerch → https://beyondobedience.ca/storeCONNECT WITH ME!Step 1: Join the free Living Beyond Obedience community and connect with other dog lovers who want to understand their dogs, build better partnerships, and enjoy more of life together.https://facebook.com/groups/LivingBeyondObedienceStep 2: Take the Dogonality Quiz to discover how your dog’s unique personality shapes the way they learn, communicate, and experience the world.https://beyondobedience.ca/quizStep 3: Ready to stop guessing what to do when your dog is struggling? Join me for the completely FREE CALM DOWN, DOG! Bootcamp, happening October 20th, 21st & 22nd.👉 https://beyondobedience.ca/bootcampMusic Credit 🎶: Shawn Trotterhttp://www.shawntrotter.com/