Program · 10 wk
Reactivity.
See a dog, turn back to you.
We find the distance where your dog can see a trigger, still eat and still turn back to you, then shrink it a few feet at a time. Engage–Disengage, U-turns, and a plan for the walks in between.
LENGTH
10 wk
SESSIONS
90-min consult + 3 private sessions + the 6-week Calm Walks class
STEPS
6
PRICE
$895
FOR
Dogs who bark, lunge or freeze at other dogs, people or bikes on leash, and the people who've started walking at 5 am to avoid them.
NOT FOR
Dogs with a bite that punctured deeply, or more than one bite: we start with your vet and a referral to a veterinary behaviorist (DACVB), and I can work alongside them.
AGES
9 months and up
The criteria sheet
6 steps.
One D at a time.
01
Settle and U-turn
A calm base at home and an exit on every walk.
1–2 weeks
DURATION
[3 min on a mat]
DISTANCE
[no trigger in sight]
DISTRACTION
[home, then a quiet street]
TO PASS
8 of 10 U-turns, 2 sessions in a row, and still taking food outside.
CRITERION
Settles on a mat for 3 min at home, and turns around on the U-turn cue on a quiet street, with no trigger in sight.
HOMEWORK
Walk at quiet times, on routes with exits. Practice the U-turn 10 times a walk, before you need it. Two decompression walks a week: long line, open space, no other dogs.
02
Engage–Disengage
Seeing a dog becomes a cue to look back at you.
2 weeks
DURATION
[10 s in view]
DISTANCE
[60 ft (or your dog's threshold)]
DISTRACTION
[one helper dog, standing still]
TO PASS
8 of 10 calm reps (no bark, no lunge, still eating, turns back within 3 s), 2 sessions in a row.
CRITERION
Sees a still dog at 60 ft for 10 s, looks, then turns back to you and eats. Level 1: mark the look. Level 2: wait for your dog to look away on their own, then mark.
HOMEWORK
Play only at your dog's distance. Closer than that, it isn't training: U-turn and leave. 5 reps, then a sniff break.
03
Closer: 40 ft
The same game, 20 ft closer.
1–2 weeks
DURATION
[10 s in view]
DISTANCE
[40 ft]
DISTRACTION
[one helper dog, standing still]
TO PASS
8 of 10 calm reps (no bark, no lunge, still eating, turns back within 3 s), 2 sessions in a row.
CRITERION
Sees a still dog at 40 ft for 10 s, looks, turns back within 3 s and eats.
HOMEWORK
Set up with a friend's calm dog at 40 ft, or watch dogs from a parked car. Keep the treats high value: cheese, chicken.
04
Closer: 25 ft
Close enough for a real sidewalk.
1–2 weeks
DURATION
[10 s in view]
DISTANCE
[25 ft]
DISTRACTION
[one helper dog, standing still]
TO PASS
8 of 10 calm reps (no bark, no lunge, still eating, turns back within 3 s), 2 sessions in a row.
CRITERION
Sees a still dog at 25 ft for 10 s, looks, turns back within 3 s and eats.
HOMEWORK
Same set-up, 25 ft. If your dog stares longer than 3 s, say the U-turn cue and leave; that rep doesn't count as a miss.
05
Longer looks
Look At That on cue: watching a dog for longer, and staying soft.
1–2 weeks
DURATION
[30 s in view]
DISTANCE
[25 ft]
DISTRACTION
[one helper dog, standing still]
TO PASS
8 of 10 calm reps (no bark, no lunge, still eating, turns back within 3 s), 2 sessions in a row.
CRITERION
Watches a still dog at 25 ft for 30 s, body loose, turning back to you and eating between looks.
HOMEWORK
Build from 10 s to 30 s in 5 s jumps. Stop the look before the body stiffens, not after.
06
Moving dog
A dog walking, not standing. Distance goes back out while movement is new.
2 weeks
DURATION
[30 s in view]
DISTANCE
[40 ft]
DISTRACTION
[helper dog walking parallel]
TO PASS
8 of 10 calm reps (no bark, no lunge, still eating, turns back within 3 s), 2 sessions in a row.
CRITERION
Walks parallel to another dog 40 ft away, same direction, for 30 s, turning back to you and eating. This is the graduation step.
HOMEWORK
Parallel walks with a friend's calm dog, 40 ft apart. Then real sidewalks, with the U-turn ready and an exit on every block.
To pass a step: 8 of 10 calm reps (no bark, no lunge, still eating, turns back within 3 s), 2 sessions in a row.
5 of 10 or less: back one step for a session, then try again.
How it runs
What the weeks look like.
SESSIONS
90-min consult + 3 private sessions + the 6-week Calm Walks class
CADENCE
Consult in week 1, 60-min private sessions in weeks 2 to 4, then Calm Walks once a week for 6 weeks. Video review between sessions.
YOU GET
A written behavior plan within 48 h of the consult
A walk plan: routes, times, the U-turn, and what to do when a dog appears at 20 ft
Video review between sessions, notes within 48 h
A spot in the next Calm Walks class: 4 dogs, visual barriers, week 1 for people only
$895
Consult, 3 privates and the class. Bought separately: $950.
Case files
Dogs on this program.
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