What we’re about
### 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 where we use positive reinforcement to help our dogs get real-world experience in a controlled and supportive setting.
### How It Works
✅ Leash Rules: All dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet (no flexi/retractable leashes).
✅ One Dog Per Handler: If you have two dogs, bring another person to handle the second dog.
✅ Control & Safety: You must be able to hold onto the leash securely and prevent your dog from pulling you over.
✅ Muzzles Welcome: If your dog needs one, no judgment—safety first!
### Color-Coded System for Safe Interactions
To help everyone maintain appropriate space, we use a color system. Wear a shirt, bandana, or leash wrap that matches your dog’s comfort level:
🔴 Red: My dog reacts to most dogs 10+ feet away → Please stay away
🟡 Yellow: My dog may warm up with a slow, proper intro → Ask before approaching
🟢 Green: My dog is neutral to dogs and people → You’re welcome to say hi
(I have extra bandanas available if you need one!)
### What to Expect
📍 We’ll meet at designated locations, keeping the appropriate distance based on our dogs' color levels.
🚶 After settling in, we’ll begin our pack walk (or another planned activity—calm café visits are in the works!).
🎯 The goal: Keep your dog under threshold—calm, focused, and engaged. If your dog is barking, lunging, straining, or fixated, that means 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.
### Rewarding Good Behavior
🐶 Bring high-value rewards to reinforce calm behavior. This can be:
✔ Treats 🍖
✔ Praise 🎉
✔ Gentle pets 🖐
✔ A favorite toy (on-leash play) 🎾
### 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!
🎥 Watch the video below for an example of how this works.