3 Things to Do When Your Dog Reacts to a Trigger
When you have a dog with “Big Feelings” like fear, reactivity, excitement, and/or anxiety, reactions are bound to happen sometimes. Even when we try to prevent as many reactions as possible, a few Big Feelings Moments are inevitable - because we can’t control all of the triggers in the world!
If you’re here, you probably know that your dog has reactions to certain things - but you might not know how to help them through those moments. Helping your dog recover from a reaction can feel overwhelming because you’re also likely feeling stressed and anxious.
So, we put together our 3 biggest tips for what to do when your dog is having a reaction.
#1 - Create Distance from the Trigger
Distance - aka how far you are from your dog’s triggers - is going to be your best friend. If your dog is having a reaction, it means that the trigger is too close for their comfort. So, your first goal in these moments is to safely create distance between your dog and the thing they are responding to.
Try luring your dog away using a “treat magnet.”
A treat magnet is a strategy where you use a high value treat to lure your dog away from the trigger. You can use a handful of treats or even a squeeze tube filled with yummy wet food or peanut butter. The goal here is to keep your dog’s attention on the food while you create space between your dog and the trigger.
Try tossing treats ahead of you and in the direction away from the scary thing.
We also love to toss treats ahead of us as we run (or speed walk) away from our dog’s triggers. This helps keep your dog moving in one direction, and again, gives them something to focus on that isn’t the trigger.
#2 - Address Your Dog’s Emotional State
Once you’ve made sure that everyone is safe and you have created distance from the trigger, you’ll want to address your dog’s emotional state. Even though the trigger is gone, they may still have some heightened feelings of anxiety or excitement. Here are a few methods we like for helping our dogs calm down after reactions:
Treat scatters in the grass to promote sniffing (read more here about why sniffing is so great)
Play a pattern game like the Up Down game or the Ping Pong game
Find a nice spot for your dog to dig
#3 - Decide on Next Steps
Once you’ve created space and given them a decompression activity like sniffing, take some time to assess how they’re feeling. Here's where you’ll want to decide if the walk (or other activity) can continue, or if you should call it a day and head home.
These are some questions to ask yourself when deciding what your next steps are:
Has my dog’s body language returned to neutral?
Am I feeling calm? Or would continuing the walk make me feel more anxious?
How well is my dog accepting treats?
Did my dog go back to sniffing?
Have we had several reactions in the past few days?
Are we at risk of seeing too many triggers if we continue?
Based on these reflection questions - and your past experiences with your dog - you can decide whether it would be worth it to continue walking or just head home. The “right” answer is the one that creates the least amount of stress for you and your dog.
And remember: your dog’s reactions are not a reflection of your worth or skills as a dog parent! 🩷
P.S. Enjoyed this article and want to learn more?
We think you would like this blog post too: Dos and Don’ts for Big Feelings Dogs
