3 Mistakes I made when I first started training with my reactive dog JJ

JJ is the first dog I’ve ever had, and I was wholly unprepared for the full force of her reactivity. I’m typically someone who over-researches everything before making any decisions, but the anxiety I felt about her behavior meant I made a lot of mistakes before we found our groove.

I thought that treats were bribery and didn’t use them.

• For the first several months I didn’t use treats. The first few months for adopted dogs can be really stressful, and not using food to train meant that I missed valuable moments to build positive associations with triggers.

I exposed her to situations she wasn’t prepared to handle.

• My expectations for her were also way too high and I exposed her to situations she couldn’t handle. I expected her to pass dogs from only 6-8 feet away, took her to a coffee shop, and let strangers interact with her. This all likely contributed to making her feel more anxious and stressed.

I sought help from an e-collar “trainer”

• When things got overwhelming, I found a trainer. That trainer used an e-collar and I had no idea how big of a mistake that would end up being. JJ’s anxiety increased exponentially and her behavior worsened until we switched to force-free methods.

Looking back, it’s tough not to feel guilty. But I can also see how much joy she has in her life now - and I’m grateful for those moments more than anything else.

- Logan Buie, KPA-CTP & SA Pro Trainer