About us

Reactive Dog Reset: Helping Your Dog Stay Calm Around Others

Are you working on helping your dog stay calm around other dogs? You're not alone. Some dogs get overexcited, while others feel nervous, anxious, or shy. No matter the reason, they all need extra space and structured practice to feel comfortable.
This meetup is designed for regular pack walks using our SPACE Protocol — a five-phase framework built on positive reinforcement and counter-conditioning.

How It Works
Our walks follow a structured format designed to keep every dog under threshold. We maintain distance, move in parallel, and never push dogs closer than they're ready for. The goal isn't for dogs to meet and greet. The goal is for dogs to practice being calm in the presence of other dogs.

Leash Rules

All dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. No flexi or retractable leashes.
One dog per handler. If you have two dogs, bring another person to handle the second dog.
You must be able to hold onto the leash securely and prevent your dog from pulling you over.
Muzzles are welcome. If your dog needs one, no judgment — safety first.
No prong collars, e-collars, choke chains, or slip leads used as chokers.
No nose-to-nose greetings (For dogs, not humans. You do you.)

Bandana Color Code
All dogs must wear a color-coded bandana or leash wrap. I have extras available if you need one.

🔴 Red — Give this dog maximum distance. Do not approach.
🟡 Yellow — Ask the owner before approaching. If approaching, use an arc and go slowly.
🟢 Green — This dog is friendly and not reactive. They are here as a regulation model for the group.

Please note: even green bandana dogs do not do nose-to-nose greetings on these walks. This is a neutrality walk, not a social one.

Rewarding Calm
Bring high-value rewards. During the walk, reward your dog for checking in with you, loose relaxed body language near other dogs, and disengaging from another dog.
You don't need to feed constantly, just mark and reward the moments that matter.

What to Expect

We meet at designated locations, keeping appropriate distance based on bandana color.
After settling in, we begin our pack walk.
The goal is to keep your dog under threshold — calm, loose body, able to disengage. If your dog is barking, lunging, or fixated, they're too close. Move further away until they can remain relaxed.
If your dog seems bored, that's a good sign. It means they're learning that other dogs don't always mean excitement or stress.

We also occasionally host calm café visits. This is a structured outing to a dog-friendly patio to practice calm behavior in a new environment.

Go at Your Dog's Pace
Some dogs need short sessions to start. Feel free to drop in for just 10 minutes and leave when your dog has had enough. Leaving while calm is always the right call.

After the Walk
Please plan for decompression time after every walk. A solo sniff walk, a long-lasting chew, or quiet rest helps your dog's nervous system recover. Stress without decompression is just stress.

Want to go deeper? The Reactive Dog Reset is a comprehensive, evidence-based online course built for reactive dog owners. reactivedogreset.com