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Jasmine (questions compiled because of related issue) "How do I approach my issues with leash biting, lack of ability to relax, reactivity to cats and dogs, and noise sensitivity"

Ali suggests to start with assessing enrichment status, thinking about what your dog adores and starting by giving them more of this.

Assess the stressors in your dogs life, and manage out as much as possible. (e.g. the window may require covering!)

Reactivity will begin with desensitization and counter conditioning (aka making scary things less scary, and decreasing distance to scary thing!) towards both cats and dogs.

The material below may be useful for further reading
 
High Value Rewards

Reducing treats in positive reinforcement training

Intro to reactivity in dogs

Best Gear For Large Reactive Dogs

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Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Tricky_pie_pie asks "Why is my 9 month old is reactive towards kids and dogs?"

Ali firstly guides not to obsess on the "why" of reactivity, because you can easily punish yourself.

First, there's Learnt behaviour, and they can learn that kids/dogs mean bad things, and so don't want them near them.

Reactivity can also be genetic, Medical issues, e.g. stomach problems, or in pain, from abuse, from a bad pregnancy from the mother, or a dozen other reasons.

But please just train and focus on their future as opposed to their past.

Further Reading:
High Value Rewards

Reducing treats in positive reinforcement training

Intro to reactivity in dogs

Best Gear For Large Reactive Dogs

Support the show

Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Lilypondloves asks "Why does my dog sit or lay down when another dog approaches?"

Ali explains that the predatory motor pattern is a thing here, that small things are less threatening and the dog may be deliberately placing themselves into a more vulnerable position.

What you can do is prepare something like a "Ready" cue, work on focus, keep your distance, and observe the predicting behaviour.

Further reading
3D's of dog training
High Value Treats

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Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Anthony_minibull asks "What can I do to move my dog forward when they freeze and lock their focus onto another dog, and avoid owner to owner conflict"

Ali explains that sometimes a small white lie is a much easier way to get out of these issues.

We can also teach Ready! Charge up a ready cue, a u-turn and remember to observe and learn their predictors too (esp. in their body language).

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Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Graysonthefosterfail wants to know "What are your views on the "not all dogs can be taught with positive reinforcement" statement?"

Ali explains that whilst (scientifically) there must be an exception to the rule, that all mammals, reptiles, birds etc can learn through positive reinforcement and that she wouldn't understand why a dog couldn't.

further reading:
Train Your Puppy Like A Tiger

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Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Reggie & Rhi asked "How Can I Help My Dog who's reactive towards Bicycles?"

Ali explains that bikes can often trigger the predatory motor pattern that our dogs have, and the desire to chase after something can create a "reactive" response.

Ali explains how to approach reactivity, holistically, what can benefit them, and why.

Further Reading:
High Value Rewards

Reducing treats in positive reinforcement training

Intro to reactivity in dogs

Best Gear For Large Reactive Dogs

Support the show

Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Hey_Cutie asks "How Do I tell if my dog's leash reactivity is excitement, or fear?"

Ali discusses how it can be hard to know, but that it doesn't actually, truly matter because the training is the same!

Further reading
Intro to reactivity
Pandemic puppies
Spectrum of sociability

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Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Lille_Husky asks "How do i manage my dog's prey drive?"

Ali explains why dogs have a prey drive and says that the best way to deal with it is to give them appropriate outlets for that drive.

Ali uses her own dogs example for how prey drive differs between breeds and how to consider it.

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Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Lucky_Goes_Crazy asks "How do I help my dog with Light & Shadow chasing?" 

Ali explains what light and shadow chasing is, and how it's a severe behaviour issue that falls under Obsessive Compulsive brackets of training. 

Ali says she's not qualified to actually teach this, but what she'd do is to decrease overall stress which impacts most behaviour, and then find a behaviourist!

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Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]

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Mals_Andagal  asks "How do I fade out a lure in a focused heel?"

Ali explains how we shape a focused heel, and suggests adding in more steps, and suggests what steps would help.

Support the show

Ali Smith is the founder of rebarkable.com This episode comes from an instagram live, head to @re.barkable or submit your question to [email protected]