How ACE Free Work can help reactive dogs feel safer
If you live or work with a reactive dog, you’ll know how exhausting it can be for everyone involved. Every walk feels like a risk. Every unexpected trigger can push them over the edge.
And as their guardian or trainer, you can be left feeling constantly on high alert or reaching for techniques to help.
It’s natural to look for behaviour modification protocols or counter-conditioning plans.
And yes, these can be incredibly helpful. But if the dog’s body is tight, unbalanced, and flooded with stress hormones, they may not be physically able to take in or act on what you’re trying to teach them.
That’s where ACE Free Work comes in.
First, let’s be clear: ACE Free Work is not a quick fix
This is not about distraction. It’s not about ‘giving the dog something else to do’ or tiring them out. It’s not enrichment for enrichment’s sake. And it’s not a standalone reactivity protocol.
ACE Free Work is about supporting the whole dog. It offers space to downshift, decompress, and explore in ways that build their confidence from the inside out.
Let’s look at why that matters.
Why reactivity isn’t just a behaviour issue
We often think of reactivity in terms of external behaviours: barking, lunging, growling, snapping. But those are just the outward signs. Reactivity is rooted in the nervous system.
A reactive dog is often operating in a heightened state of arousal.
Their stress responses are on a hair trigger. They may be physically braced, tight in their movement, and unsure where their body is in space. This lack of postural confidence can make them more easily startled or frustrated - which feeds the cycle of reactivity.
To support reactive dogs long-term, we need to create experiences where they can:
- Physically release tension
- Process sensory information safely
- Practice slow, intentional movement
- Gain confidence in their own body
And that’s exactly what ACE Free Work offers.
What happens when reactive dogs do Free Work
ACE Free Work setups are carefully designed to support safe exploration. They involve different surfaces, scents, textures, heights, and movement options - all arranged with the dog’s individual needs in mind. Crucially, the dog is free to choose how and whether to interact.
With no pressure to perform, dogs begin to:
- Slow down their movement
- Regulate their breathing
- Loosen habitual muscle tension
- Reclaim agency over their body and choices
You’ll often see reactive dogs physically start to soften. Their weight shifts more evenly, their tail carriage lowers, their mouth softens… and these aren’t just nice extras - they’re signs that the dog’s nervous system is beginning to feel safer.
And when dogs feel safer in their bodies, they’re better able to process and respond to the world.
Free Work gives us vital information, too
One of the most powerful benefits of ACE Free Work is what it reveals. When a dog is moving freely and choosing what to interact with, we learn so much:
- How do they shift their weight?
- Do they brace when approaching a certain surface or item?
- Are they avoiding certain movements altogether?
- Do they stretch, soften, shake off?
These observations can point to physical discomfort, postural habits, or subtle stress patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.
For reactive dogs, this matters hugely. If we’re only focusing on the behaviour in the moment - the barking, the lunging - we might miss the root causes. ACE Free Work helps us get curious about what’s underneath the reactivity, and how we can support the dog holistically.
A choice-led approach builds trust
Many reactive dogs have had a lifetime of being managed, restrained, or told what not to do. Free Work flips that script.
It says: You choose. You set the pace. You explore how you want to.
That simple act of agency can be profoundly healing. It helps dogs rebuild a sense of safety in the environment and in their relationship with us. And that trust becomes the foundation for deeper behavioural change.
How to get started with ACE Free Work for reactive dogs
If you’re curious to explore this more, we recommend starting with our ACEing Reactivity workshop. It dives deep into how Free Work can be used to support behaviour change in a safe, ethical, wellbeing-led way.
You’ll discover:
- How to tailor setups for reactive dogs
- What to observe and look for
- How to integrate Free Work with other behaviour work
- Why this approach supports long-term resilience, not just quick results
Explore the ACEing Reactivity Workshop here
Or, if you want a full foundation, our ACE Free Work bundle includes:
- ACE Essentials
- ACEing Reactivity
- Geeking ACE
Together, they offer a comprehensive guide to Free Work and how to use it in your professional practice.
A holistic approach to reactivity
Our Reframing Reactivity Pro Course is a deep-dive into what truly drives reactive behaviour - and how to shift it with empathy and insight. And it includes an entire module on ACE Free Work!
You’ll learn how to:
- Rethink traditional approaches
- Understand nervous system needs
- Work with trauma, not against it
- Empower clients and build trust
This course brings together techniques from ACE, Control Unleashed, Your End of the Lead and our very own Wellbeing Framework to give you confidence that you are getting the best results for your clients.
Whether you’re just starting out or already using ACE in your practice, this course will help you embed everything into a cohesive, compassionate strategy.
Hi!
