Positive Reinforcement Training and Obedience won’t work on your spicy, dysregulated dog.

The best way to train your dysregulated/reactive dog is not to distract them, not to assert dominance, and definitely not punishing, correcting, or shouting at your dog.

You teach your dog to sit. Nailed it.

You teach a down, a spin, maybe even the TikTok-approved “boop my nose and I’ll fall over” trick. All great.

And then one morning your dog sees another dog across the street and goes full “Mortal Kombat: Sidewalk Edition.”

Suddenly all your beautiful positive reinforcement training feels like you brought a pool noodle to a sword fight.

You wake up thinking, “Will today be the day my dog chooses chaos?” It’s your new morning mantra.

Barking.
Lunging.
Growling.
Leash acrobatics.
Public humiliation.
Social isolation.
And the emotional collapse of a person who just wanted a peaceful stroll around the block.

You look at your dog — stressed, wired, shaky — and you don’t see any long-term exit ramp off this chaos highway.

So you try:
Fancy harnesses.
Calming chews.
TikTok hacks filmed by someone whose dog is definitely not reactive.
Maybe even a Very Expensive Trainer™ who said something vague like “just walk with confidence.”

You distract them with a treat every time a trigger is around.

And it still… doesn’t work.

Reactive dog training methods based on distraction and redirection fail.

If you’re nodding along, here’s the uncomfortable-but-actually-helpful truth:

Reactive dogs aren’t being bad.
They’re drowning in stress.

When they see or hear their triggers — dogs, people, cars, squirrels, birds, leaves that moved slightly, the TV,

the fence, the entire world — their stress system slams the big red panic button.

If that happens a lot?
Your dog basically lives in a permanent “the sky is falling” mindset, AKA, fight or flight mode.

So what actually does help?

1. Lower your dog’s stress levels.

2. Help them feel differently about the things that scare/startle/explode their brain.

And one of the secret weapons that does both?

Sniffing.
Yes, the thing your dog tries to do constantly while you mutter “come on.”

Sniffing switches your dog out of “fight-or-flight” and into “oh thank goodness, I can actually function.”

A short, controlled sniff-fest near a low-intensity version of their trigger?
That is the gold standard of reactive dog training. It’s the Michelin-star meal of dog behavior work.

THAT is one of the many things I will teach you inside my brand-new online course:

**CALMER REACTIONS:

Regulated Rover**
Your step-by-step plan to transform chaos goblins into calm walking companions.

You’ll learn how to:
✅ Lower your dog’s stress (without changing your whole life)
✅ Use sniffing strategically for real behavior change
✅ Introduce triggers at the right intensity — not the “oh god everything’s exploding” level
✅ Build predictable calm on walks and in your home
✅ Finally understand what’s going on in that spicy little dog brain

After just a couple weeks?
You’ll see calmer walks, fewer meltdowns, and an actual feeling of control.

If you're tired of embarrassment, stress spirals, and wondering if your dog needs an exorcism…

👉 This is the course that actually works.

Ready for peaceful walks again?
Let’s do this.

Sara’s training is gentle. I learned how to understand my dog’s body language and how to work with him in an affirmative and effective way. This was a very helpful, informative and encouraging training program.

- Debra and Charlie

What makes Sara unique is her understanding of the dogs’ mentality and the importance of positive reinforcement for effective bonding and training. She debunks the need for the owner to become the Alpha in the relationship which I found refreshing. Given her understanding of the canine mind and her lighthearted methods, it is not surprising she repeatedly wins best trainer acclaim.

-Ken and Marvey

I’m so impressed with the progress my reactive dog has made with Mr. Dog Training. Sara focuses a lot on building trust and helping you form a better relationship with your dog, which I didn’t realize we were missing until we started. Everything is kind, calm, and science-based—no intimidation or painful tools. My dog used to lunge and bark at every little thing; now he’s actually looking to me for guidance instead of panicking. It’s been such a relief to find a trainer who treats dogs and humans with compassion AND gets results.

-Pam and Chippy