* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Call it growly, fearful, selective, aggressive, unfriendly or reactive — according to our proprietary research into behavioral problems in dogs, it turns out 75% of pet owners have a pup that in some way overreacts to stimuli with reactive behaviors. It’s hard to be a dog in the modern world. More and more of us are living in cities with our dogs and cities weren’t built for dogs. The loud noises, fast moving objects, dangerous roads and leashes - this isn’t an environment that is conducive for a dog to live their best life. And thus we are seeing dogs develop more and more neuroses.
Being a reactive dog parent can be lonely and discouraging. You are watching a loved one suffer and might be unsure how to help them. You may feel anxiety about everyday activities, like taking your dog for a walk — who knew that could be so stressful? You may feel a stigma, like something is wrong with your dog or with you... and that might tempt you to keep your dog’s reactivity a secret.
But you are not alone! Like we mentioned above, 75% of dog owners have a dog that in some way shows reactive behaviors. Many of these pups struggle due to underlying medical issues, common training mistakes, and more reasons — things that can often be addressed to help you and your companion live a better life together.
In the meantime, as you look into reactive dog training, check out these online communities for ideas, support, training resources, and — most importantly, because you need to take care of yourself, too — just to have human connection with other pet owners going through the same thing. Your dog can have a full life!
As always, we recommend taking any kind of behavioral course in partnership with a certified trainer whose repository of training knowledge is based in science and full of compassion. They can guide you through simple things like leash training, more complicated topics like extra training tools you might add to your outings (humane options, like backup collars for added security, for example), and ultimately provide reactive dog guardians like yourself with helpful protocols for you and your pup to make progress.
Run by Eden Dog Academy, this Facebook group is dedicated to supporting people living with dogs with behaviour problems such as reactivity and aggression. At tens of thousands of members, there is much honest discussion with people frequently asking questions and getting support for their reactive dogs. They follow LIMA (Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive) reactive dog training guidelines.
Join more than 15 thousand other reactive dog parents in supporting each other in this Facebook group for pet owners run by Dog Kind training. This group is dedicated to positive reinforcement training and does not allow discussion of aversives, though they do welcome dedicated guardians to ask tough questions and share challenging experiences.
With nearly 75,000 members, this subreddit is devoted to reactive dog training questions, answers, and general advice between non-judgmental people living with reactive dogs. They support the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) approach to dog training.
If you live in Minnesota and have a reactive dog, check out this Facebook group for reactive dog owners in Minnesota. This group is not a Sniffspot group, but we do sponsor it! It only allows science-based, positive training discussion.
If you are located in Washington state, check out the local reactive dog Facebook group. You can find others in the area going through the same thing as you, connect with folks planning pack walks or connect with a local trainer. This group was started by Sniffspot’s founder and is for science-based, positive training only.
This is a local reactive dog support Facebook group for folks living in Oregon. If you live in Oregon, join to connect with other local reactive dog parents. This group was started by Sniffspot’s founder and is for science-based, positive training only.
This local Facebook group is for California reactive dog parents. This group was started by Sniffspot’s founder and is for science-based, positive training only.
If you live in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area and have a reactive dog, consider joining this Facebook group to connect with other locals going through the same thing. This group was started by Sniffspot’s founder and is for science-based, positive training only.
This is a local reactive dog owner group for folks in Massachusetts. You can get support and advice, such as the best trainers or sitters for reactive dogs, etc. Sniffspot also sponsors this group, but it is not a Sniffspot group. It only allows positive training techniques.
There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.
This is the trainer that reviewed this article:
Lindy Langum
Founder - K9 Fun Club
Staff Trainer - Summit Assistance Dogs
Certified in Canine Studies (CSS), NW School of Canine Studies
Sniffspot Research 2023, n = 4,092
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either his own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle (or worse, get bored of) them in just a few days?
You’ve been told that your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to stretch their legs, experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and spend time with you! Consistent physical activity will also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dog breeds have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being dangerous. Rottweilers are among them — as a large working breed, they’re often thought of as aggressive.
Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.”
Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.
Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Welcome to the United States Sniffspot top dog trainer list for 2023. This is a list of the top dog trainers in the United States based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public. Over 55,000 votes were used in compiling this list. We have only included the top trainers with sufficient votes and the trainers are ordered in terms of the number of votes received. Trainers that tied are ranked in reverse alphabetical order based on first name. All dog trainers on this list are positive reinforcement only, as defined by no force, fear, intimidation, or aversive methods used.
Welcome to the New Jersey Sniffspot top dog trainer list for 2023. This is a list of the top dog trainers in New Jersey based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public. Over 55,000 votes were used in compiling this list. We have only included the top trainers with sufficient votes and the trainers are ordered in terms of the number of votes received. Trainers that tied are ranked in reverse alphabetical order based on first name. All dog trainers on this list are positive reinforcement only, as defined by no force, fear, intimidation, or aversive methods used. To learn more about our dog trainer contest, feel free to view the dog trainer contest post.
Welcome to the Michigan Sniffspot top dog trainer list for 2023. This is a list of the top dog trainers in Michigan based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public. Over 55,000 votes were used in compiling this list. We have only included the top trainers with sufficient votes and the trainers are ordered in terms of the number of votes received. Trainers that tied are ranked in reverse alphabetical order based on first name. All dog trainers on this list are positive reinforcement only, as defined by no force, fear, intimidation, or aversive methods used. To learn more about our dog trainer contest, feel free to view the dog trainer contest post.
Welcome to the Washington Sniffspot top dog trainer list for 2023. This is a list of the top dog trainers in Washington based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public. Over 55,000 votes were used in compiling this list. We have only included the top trainers with sufficient votes and the trainers are ordered in terms of the number of votes received. Trainers that tied are ranked in reverse alphabetical order based on first name. All dog trainers on this list are positive reinforcement only, as defined by no force, fear, intimidation, or aversive methods used. To learn more about our dog trainer contest, feel free to view the dog trainer contest post.
Welcome to the Florida Sniffspot top dog trainer list for 2023. This is a list of the top dog trainers in Florida based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public. Over 55,000 votes were used in compiling this list. We have only included the top trainers with sufficient votes and the trainers are ordered in terms of the number of votes received. Trainers that tied are ranked in reverse alphabetical order based on first name. All dog trainers on this list are positive reinforcement only, as defined by no force, fear, intimidation, or aversive methods used. To learn more about our dog trainer contest, feel free to view the dog trainer contest post.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in Sin City.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.