How are you feeling walking your dog just now?

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First, how does it all work?

A typical Reactive Dog Package looks like

• Sessions 1 and 2 - relevant exercises to train you on what to do with your Reactive Dog
• Session 3 - the 'Dummy Dog' session. Sounds strange but my Clients love this session as a massive confidence booster
• Sessions 4, 5 and 6 - two fold, take the 'Show on the Road' where I'm your Coach to help you build confidence in what you've learnt so far and we also start Scentwork, then we layer in further training exercises to build focus and attention on you rather than your Dog's triggers

And, so, what are the benefits, both to you, and your Dog?

1. Confidence.  When we take the 'show on the road', I'll be at your side. We'll go on your usual walks together, we'll meet at your usual parks together. We may even go and sit in coffee shops teaching your dog to be calm when it's triggers are around. I'll support you fully, giving you confidence you are doing the right thing
2. Resilience. Your Dog (and you!) will learn to recover from stressful situations more quickly. This means when your Dog encounters its triggers, they will learn to reduce their reaction and, in the long term, there may be no apparent reaction at all. They'll learn to redirect positive attention onto you and you'll learn what to do to give them the leadership and guidance you want to give them, You'll both become more resilient. It takes time, but it works. 
3. Relationship. Your relationship with your Dog will grow and develop as we work together. Your bond will strengthen and, over time, your Dog will look to you more and more as you become part of the fun on the walks. We'll move on to develop 'Structured Training Walks' and 'Chill Out Walks'  - there are be so many benefits to this I could literally write Books about this.  In fact, I think I may just do that one day- watch this space!
4. Happiness. If you are anything like me, nothing makes me happier than when my Dogs are happy. It does all take time, but as we build the work we do together with your Dog  we will build all of the above - confidence, resilience, relationship  growth and (see below), mindfulness. This will achieve happiness for you both on your walks together. Yes, it will be a roller coaster journey but it's like winning the Lottery when you, one day, walk calmly by another reactive dog, on the same side of the street, with no reaction from your Dog. I've been there, it's the best feeling.
5. Mindfulness for Dogs . Yep, I just wrote those words. I had an epiphany moment recently. I've been trying, perhaps failing, to describe to Clients for ages the benefits of Scentwork for Dogs. I must admit I struggled to get it across , but I know that, after I did all the Reactive Dog work with Max, my German Shepherd Dog, when he was young, what really moved him on was Nosework training. When Dogs use their nose, it gets them in the zone, it gets them calm, and they absolutely live in those moments. There's a lot of science that talks about the benefits of Mindfulness for humans. My experience is that this works for Dogs too and the way you do it is Scentwork. I'll teach you that too.