Reactive Dog Resources

As a reactive dog owner, you should stay up-to-date on reactive dog resources and training tips. Dealing with a reactive dog can be difficult, which is why you should seek help from qualified professionals who will provide support, listen to you throughout the entire process, use positive reinforcement training and provide results.

While positive results are important, teaching you how to handle a stressful situation quickly and how to positively change your dog’s behavior is much more valuable in the long run. If you’re looking for answers, check out these resources below. You’ll find plenty of reactive dog resources and dog training solutions. 🙂

Veterinary Behaviorists

Finding a veterinary behaviorist should be the first step pet owners take when dealing with a reactive dog, but unfortunately many pet owners seek these professionals as a last resort. A veterinary behaviorist is a veterinarian who’s board certified in animal behavior. These professionals treat reactive dog cases every day. Plus, they’re up-to-date on the latest behavior protocols, tests and medications. To find a veterinary behaviorist in your area, check out American College of Veterinary Behaviorist.

If you’re fortunate to live near a veterinary behaviorist, it’s worth scheduling an appointment with that person face-to-face. Now, some pet owners aren’t that lucky. If you’re unable to speak directly to a vet behaviorist, do know that all veterinary behaviorists will consult with your regular veterinarian by phone. There are so many benefits to bringing a veterinary behavior expert into the mix. For example, she can recommend a local qualified dog trainer and point you in the right direction.

Qualified Dog Trainers

Not all dog trainers are qualified to work with reactive dogs; actually, most of them aren’t qualified. Keep in mind there’s no such thing as an animal behaviorist. This is a made-up term in the dog training world. Anyone can call herself an animal behaviorist, as there’s no certification or requirement to do so.

When searching for a qualified dog trainer, you can ask your veterinary behaviorist for a referral. In most cases, she’ll know local dog trainers who have experience working positively with reactive dogs. Seek a dog trainer who is Behavioral Adjustment Training (BAT) certified. These dog trainers know how to use counter-conditioning and desensitization for reactive dog training, and they clearly explain their process to pet owners.

If your veterinary behaviorist doesn’t know of any dog trainers in your area and you’re unable to find a BAT-certified dog trainer nearby, then I suggest searching for a professional dog trainer who specializes in dog reactivity or aggression. The dog trainer you choose should have a minimum of 5 years of experience—not counting school—because it takes years of hands-on experience and continuing education to learn how to successfully change a reactive dog’s behavior.

Check out Karen Pryor Academy of Dog Trainers, Pet Professional Guild, International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and Animal Behavior College.

Books & DVDs

There are a ton of books that discuss dog behavior and dog reactivity, but many are too difficult to read. I’ve compiled a few must-have books for reactive dog training below. Each book is different and reading them all will help you interpret dog body language and understand why reactive dogs act a certain way and how to change their behavior.

“Calming Signal – What Your Dog Tells You” by Turid Rugaas

This easy-to-read booklet gives you the foundation to both successfully interpret your dog’s body language and change his behavior. If you can’t identify when something bad is about to happen, you can’t prevent it from happening.

“Feisty Fido: Help for the Leash-Reactive Dog” by Patricia McConnell and Karen B. London

This quick read will teach you the importance of an emergency U-Turn as well as how to handle situations when your dog reacts.

“Behavior Adjustment Training 2.0: New Practical Techniques for Fear, Frustration, and Aggression” by Grisha Stewart, M.A., CPDT-KA

This book, which also comes in a DVD set, will teach you how to change your dog’s behavior. Now, this book will be a bit challenging to read for most pet owners, so I highly recommend referring to this book when working with a veterinary behaviorist and qualified dog trainer.

Hopefully, these reactive dog resources will help you get started in your quest for answers. Good luck on your journey. Many of us have taken it with great success. 🙂