Training Dog Reactivity with Hooch at New Smyrna Dog Beach
In today’s training session, I’m working with Hooch on his reactivity towards other dogs. You’ll see us in the parking lot where there are plenty of distractions with dogs coming and going. Reactivity can be challenging, especially when a dog is vocal and highly focused on the stimulus, but with counter-conditioning and consistent practice, progress is possible!
✨ What is Counter-Conditioning?
Counter-conditioning is a method used to change a dog’s emotional response to something they react to, like other dogs. In Hooch’s case, he tends to bark and get worked up when he sees other dogs. The goal of our session was to teach him to remain calm and focus on me instead of reacting.
🐕 Using Markers and Rewards
To help Hooch, I use a marker (either a clicker or the word “yes”) to let him know when he’s doing the right thing. When he looks at me after seeing a dog, I mark the behavior and immediately follow up with a high-value reward. This creates a positive association with looking away from the trigger (other dogs) and towards me.
🚙 Creating a Safe Space
During the session, I kept my truck door open with the air conditioning running. This provided Hooch a comfortable “place” to return to when I needed to reset his focus. It’s important to give your dog a space where they feel safe during training, especially in busy or overwhelming environments.
🧠 One of the key moments in the video is when Hooch begins to break his focus on his own. Instead of barking or getting too worked up, he started looking at the other dogs and then back at me for his reward. Timing is critical—rewarding the exact moment he looks away from the distraction reinforces the calm behavior we’re aiming for.
If you watch closely, you’ll see that when Hooch doesn’t break his focus on his own, I calmly guide him back into the truck to reset. This helps avoid reinforcing the reactive behavior while still keeping the session positive and productive.
I’m proud of the progress Hooch has made—he’s getting the hang of things! Reactivity can be tough, but with patience, consistent use of markers, and high-value rewards, you can help your dog build new habits.
Check out the video and pay attention to the timing of the rewards! 🙌🐶
#DogReactivity #CounterConditioning #DogTraining #TMCanineServices #DogBeachTraining #ProgressNotPerfection
This is so helpful in working with Toby. I need to add the marker “yes” in before the treat.