PREVENTING REACTIVITY — AND SUPPORTING DOGS THROUGH ADOLESCENCE
Reactivity doesn’t come out of nowhere
Most reactivity doesn’t start as a serious problem. It often begins with small, easily missed signs during puppyhood and early adolescence — over‑arousal, frustration, sensitivity, big reactions followed by quick recovery.
For active, intelligent dogs, these behaviours are not a failure. They’re information.
Without the right guidance at the right time, those early patterns can harden into habits — especially through adolescence, when hormones, confidence shifts, and increased independence collide.
Prevention is not about doing more — it’s about doing the right things
One of the biggest myths in dog training is that more exercise, more social exposure, or more commands will prevent behaviour issues.
In reality, prevention is about:
- emotional regulation, not constant stimulation
- clarity, not control
- boundaries, sequencing and effective communication
- helping dogs learn how to settle, disengage, and recover
- Understanding Breed drives and your individual dogs lifestyle needs
This is especially important for dogs bred with drive, stamina, and sensitivity.
Why adolescence is the tipping point?
Between roughly 6–18 months, dogs go through a developmental phase that can look like regression:
- increased reactivity to people, dogs, or environments
- loss of focus or reliability
- heightened frustration or big emotional responses
This doesn’t mean you’ve failed — but it does mean the strategy needs to change
What worked for a young puppy often isn’t enough for an adolescent dog.
If you’re early: how we help prevent reactivity
When we work with you from puppyhood, the focus is on building foundations that reduce the likelihood of reactivity later on:
- developing emotional control alongside skills
- teaching dogs how to switch off as well as engage
- supporting confidence without flooding or pressure
- helping owners recognise early signs before they escalate
Prevention is quiet, unglamorous work — but it’s what creates dogs that cope well with the real world.
A personalised consult allows us to look at where your dog is now, what stage they’re in, and how to support them moving forward — whether that’s prevention, adjustment, or rebuilding foundations.
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If things have already started to feel harder
Many owners come to us during adolescence saying:
- “My dog is suddenly reacting to things that never bothered them before”
- “My dog is unsafe and lacks impulse control”
- “They have no recall, do not listen and drag me everywhere”
- “They are dog obsessed”
- “I am concerned they are showing signs of aggression toward people or other dogs”
- “Walks feel stressful instead of enjoyable”
- “I don’t know if this is normal or the start of something bigger”
At this stage, the goal isn’t blame or labels.
It’s about:
- understanding what’s driving the behaviour
- reducing pressure and arousal where needed
- rebuilding clarity and confidence
- giving both ends of the lead a plan forward
Early support during adolescence can dramatically change the long‑term outcome.
Our role: clarity, reassurance, and direction
Whether you’re aiming to prevent problems or you’re already navigating adolescence, our work is centred on helping you understand what’s happening — and what actually helps.
We focus on:
- realistic expectations
- thoughtful adjustments
- steady progress over time
This support is right for you if:
- you want to protect your dogs future
- you’re seeing early signs of reactivity or emotional overwhelm
- adolescence feels harder than you expected
- you want to intervene early, not wait for things to escalate
- You just want help overcoming your dogs reactivity
Many owners didn’t realise how much input even ‘easy’ breeds need — especially through adolescence. Wanting guidance now isn’t failure; it’s responsibility.
Get in touch
Start with a personalised consult
The earlier you get clarity, the easier it is to make meaningful changes.
Let’s Talk