Caffeine and Canines EP 61: MICHAEL ELLIS - If I Had a Reactive Dog In 2025, This Is What I'd Do (FULL BLUEPRINT)
Aug 9, 2025
Join experienced dog trainer Michael Ellis as he unveils a blueprint for managing reactive dogs. He discusses the alarming rise in reactivity linked to modern lifestyles and provides practical exercises that many overlook. Discover strategies like teaching disengagement, using leash cues, and the importance of avoiding new tools near triggers. Michael emphasizes the necessity of early redirection training in puppies and outlines how play can reduce reactivity, ultimately helping dogs transition from reactivity to calmness. Grab a pen and prepare to learn!
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Different Causes Need Different Responses
- Reactivity has distinct triggers and reinforcements that shape treatment strategies.
- Identifying triggers and whether reinforcement is external or internal guides avoidance and intervention.
Self-Reinforcement Deepens Reactivity
- Internal (self) reinforcement makes reactivity harder because the dog 'likes' the behaviour.
- Each reactive incident can strengthen the habit like a variable reward schedule.
Manage First, Train Second
- Implement management to prevent rehearsals while you build skills and tools.
- Avoid known triggers and environments until the dog has safer alternatives and skills.