Odie came to me with a history of dog fights and dog-on-dog reactivity. Two videos show how we worked with him.
Reactivity: manage first, then teach
This is why we started working with Odie in the first place.
- Manage the situation. We started with muzzle training so everyone is safe around other dogs.
- Expose him to other dogs. We began with my dog, also muzzled for safety.
- Train markers and redirection. We spent a lot of time on markers and redirecting with leash pressure.
- Be proactive, not punitive. Instead of telling Odie “no” and hammering him once he’s reactive, I apply pressure early. That keeps the pressure low. Leash pressure plus obedience shows him how to manage the situation himself.
Layering positive and negative reinforcement
This video layers positive reinforcement with negative reinforcement.
- Sendaway. We teach it because it’s fun for the dog. It also lets us use negative reinforcement to work on impulse control with place commands.
- Termination marker. It positively reinforces the good behavior.
- Result. This habituates Odie to stress and makes him a lot more fun to train with.