Perfect is the wrong target in dog training. Better is. And when life goes sideways, good habits are what get you through it and back on track.
Pushing for exciting dog interactions before the foundation is there can build unpredictable associations. Good socialisation starts with calm, not play.
Letting your dog run 100 metres ahead into a group of unknown dogs removes you from every decision that matters. Here’s why proximity is the point.
Fetch looks like fun. But compulsive fetch depletes dopamine baselines, spikes cortisol, and can quietly make your dog harder to settle — not easier.
Settling isn’t a behaviour you train — it’s a state you create. If your dog can’t switch off at home, the environment is usually the place to start.
If your dog is reactive or antisocial around other dogs, there is a clear pathway forward. It starts with understanding why — everything else follows from that.
Two days, small groups, in person. Learn why your dog reacts and what to do about it. Sydney reactivity workshop — 6th & 7th June. Spots almost gone.
Your dog signals stress before it reacts. Learning to read those signals — and the other dog’s — gives you time to act before the threshold is crossed.
Play can reduce reactivity or quietly make it worse. It depends on the game, the structure, and whether it matches the dog.
