Reactive behaviour is simply an expression of needs. The dog may need to feel safe, to find relief from discomfort or frustration, to have an outlet for genetic patterns and more besides. But how do we balance this with the client's need to stop the behaviour? 

As canine professionals we understand that wellbeing is central to the process of resolving reactivity so it can be frustrating that many of our clients are still focused on simply changing the unwanted behaviour.

They are frustrated that their dog is barking or lunging at other dogs or people and they, understandably, want it to stop.

Clients don't always get the connection between their dog’s behaviour and their unmet needs so they may not understand how what we are doing is addressing the problem.

There are of course many unscrupulous individuals who are more than happy to “stop” behaviours quickly by using pain and pressure so it can feel like we are fighting a losing battle, even when we know that truly resolving, rather than repressing, reactivity begins only when both dog and human feel safe.

So how do we negotiate our way between what the client says they want and what we know the dog needs so that they are willing to get on board with a wellbeing-focused approach? 

How do we shift their thinking from “I need to stop my dog…” to “how can I help my dog feel safer”?

In this free masterclass with reactivity specialist, Janet Finlay, we will explore these questions and look at how the HeartDog Wellbeing Framework can help us to move practically from wellbeing through to behaviour change, in a way that respects the dog's emotions, their individual needs as well as the needs of the humans who love them.

We’ll look at behaviour change through a wellbeing lens and give you a practical tool to help you show your clients that the “quickest fix” for reactivity is to understand and meet their dog’s needs.