Behavior help
Reactive Dog Training
A reactive dog is often an overwhelmed dog. Susan helps yours feel calmer and more confident in the world.
Reactivity is an over-the-top response to something in the environment: other dogs, strangers, noises, the doorbell, or sudden movement. A reactive dog is usually not trying to be difficult, they are overwhelmed and unsure how to cope, and the big reaction is how that comes out.
Susan helps you see the world through your dog's eyes and gives them, and you, better tools. Through her in-home, game-based method, your dog learns that they can stay calm and that you will handle what worries them, which is the foundation for lasting change.
What reactivity can look like
- Barking or lunging at dogs, people, or noises
- Going over threshold and being hard to redirect
- Reacting to the doorbell or visitors
- Fixating on triggers and struggling to settle
- A dog who seems on edge or easily set off
How Susan approaches it
Susan focuses on building your dog's confidence and your leadership together. Rather than flooding a dog with the things that scare them, she works at a pace your dog can handle, using games that reward calm and teach a different response.
Each plan is tailored to your dog's specific triggers and your home and routine. Step by step, the aim is a dog who can move through the world more calmly and a household that feels a lot less stressful.
It all happens through the in-home, game-based 30-games method, built around your dog and your goals. Meet Susan to learn about her background and credentials.
Common questions
What is the difference between reactive and aggressive?
Reactivity is an outsized response that is often rooted in fear or overstimulation, while aggression involves intent to do harm. They can overlap, and Susan assesses your individual dog to build the right plan. See also her aggression help.
Can an older reactive dog still change?
Yes. Dogs of any age can learn new responses. Susan has spent over 25 years helping dogs build calmer, more confident habits, including plenty of adult dogs.
Where does the training happen?
In your home and the surroundings where your dog reacts, so the work fits real life. Susan serves South Jersey, with nearby Delaware and the Philadelphia area within reach.
Let’s work on it together
Tell Soozy Pooch a little about your dog and what you’re facing. Susan is based in Elmer, NJ and brings the visit to you across South Jersey and nearby areas.