Have you ever wondered why your dog can walk past a trigger one day with no issue… and then totally lose it the next? You’re not alone—and no, your dog isn’t being unpredictable on purpose.

In this episode of Holistic Dog Behavior The Podcast, we’re answering a listener’s thoughtful question: Why does my dog sometimes react, but not other times? Megan breaks it all down with practical insights and real-life examples to help you make sense of your dog’s responses. We talk trigger stacking, situational context, reinforcement, and the often-overlooked internal factors that influence how a dog reacts in the moment.

Whether you’re deep into behavior work or just starting to notice patterns, this episode will help you connect the dots and feel more confident supporting your dog.

Key Moments:

2:29 Listener question: Why does my dog sometimes react, but not other times?

10:00 Megan’s trigger stacking story (yes, the lasagna one!)

17:00 Understanding Trigger Stacking and how it builds up

26:00 Contextual & situational triggers—location and conditions matter

28:10 Real-life client example of situational reactivity

42:15 The 3 D’s (Distance, Duration, Distraction) and how they explain “inconsistent” reactions

44:15 Motivating Operations and Reinforcement—why your dog’s behavior shifts with treat value, hunger, stress, and more

Recommended Resources:

• Insta: @whataboutbunny

• Book: I Am Bunny : How a Talking Dog Taught Me Everything I Need to Know about Being Human

Understanding Your Dog’s Breed:

• Book: Meet Your Dog by Kim Brophey

Thanks for listening! If you found this episode helpful, subscribe, rate, and review to help other dog owners find us! You can also submit your own questions for the pod at holisticdogbehavior.com/podcast

Connect With Us:

• Website: Holistic Dog Behavior

• Instagram: @HolisticDogBehavior

• Send us your questions for future episodes here!