Reactive Rover: Distance Is Positive

When training reactive dogs and their people, one of the most beneficial and simple things I encourage clients to remember is: distance is their friend.  It's so encouraging to see a dog have success, and success typically occurs when the trigger is farther away at first.  

As example, let's assume you are terrified of snakes.  With that in mind, does knowing that there are 30ft snakes in another country keep you up at night or stop you from your daily business?  Very likely not.  Distance is the key.  If you were hiking and came across a huge snake, that would be a completely different story.  Your reaction would be instinctual, would doubtfully be controlled or at ease.  The same goes for dogs. 

When a dog comes in close proximity to their trigger, it can be very challenging to manage their reactions.  But with distance, the trigger may not be so concerning, and the client will be able to work with them on desensitization and counter-conditioning.  To hear that a dog is having progress at a distance is a GREAT THING.  There is always time to reduce distance - the most important thing is to eliminate rehearsals of challenging behavior by giving your dog the space he or she needs to be successful in their training.  Keep your pup working at a distance where they can take treats and complete the tasks at hand, and their progress will be measurable!