We've been trying to TRAIN our dogs out of reactivity.
Now I have a better understanding of why that often doesn't work.
TRAUMA occurs when the animal is completely overwhelmed and unable to cope. It is a response to a large event, or to an accumulation of smaller ones.
Trauma changes the brain.
Many dogs become reactive because they have been overwhelmed by something people or other dogs have done. That's TRAUMA.
Simply trying to change their behaviour is a superficial approach.
Healing/ recovery doesn't apply to 'fixing the problem'.
It applies to healing/ recovering/ developing healthy coping mechanisms.
Progress relies on the dog feeling SAFE.
Credit: Dr Laura Donaldson
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