A Helping Paw

4 Ways to Make The Trigger Less Overwhelming (Visual)

Reactive dogs are often overwhelmed by their triggers. A key part of training your reactive dog is “sub-threshold exposure” AKA structured practice with the trigger without overwhelming your dog. Here are some ideas on how to make the trigger easier for your dog to handle!

#1 Get More Distance

Two comic panels. The first panel has a small chihuahua with a speech bubble containing an exclamation point and a Great Dane standing beside them with its head out of frame. The second panel has the same chihuahua with a speech bubble now containing an ellipsis (3 dots) and the Great Dane is now across the road and fully visible.

The parameter that you have the most control over is how close you are to the trigger. If your dog loses it when the trigger is 20 feet away, then you want to practice somewhere that gives you at least 25-30 feet of space.

Some of my clients have had to start in the middle of a muddy soccer field in order to discourage anyone from coming closer. Others have driven their dogs out of the city to a quieter area or to an area with wider streets.

If off leash dogs are a concern, then it is not a good area to practice!

Three comic panels. The first is a husky looking to the right with a speech bubble over its head with an exclamation point. The second panel is three birds flying in the distance. The third panel is a dachshund facing to the right.

#2 Try A Stationary Trigger

Two comic panels. The first: in the bottom left is the silhouette of a dog with its back to the viewer with a speech bubble above its head containing an exclamation point; in the upper right is a border collie running to catch a frisbee. The second panel is the same silhouette in the bottom left with a speech bubble above its head now containing an elipsis and in the upper right is a border collie lying down.

If your dog struggles with the trigger in motion (dog walking, bicycle being pedaled, kids bouncing a ball) then it may be helpful to start with something that is not moving. This is especially true for reactive dogs that are bonkers excited about other dogs – a dog that’s running or playing is a lot harder to resist than a dog that’s just hanging out on the front porch.

I often suggest that clients start with the neighbourhood geriatric hound or terrier that is out for a sniff walk and does not care about the world around them, or that one SUPER chill big dog that just hangs out on the porch. Position yourself far enough away so that your dog stays calm.

#3 Try The Trigger Facing Another Way

Three comic panels. In the first: in the bottom left is the silhouette of a dog facing away from the viewer with a speech bubble above its head containing an exclamation point. In the upper right, a golden retriever walks head-on towards the viewer. In the second panel, the same silhouette in the bottom left with a speech bubble above its head containing an ellipsis and in the upper right a golden retriever is walking directly away from the viewer. Third panel is the same silhouette with the ellipsis in the bottom left and in the upper right a golden retriever is walking towards the right side of the frame.

Many dogs are more overwhelmed by triggers that are approaching them, especially head-on. If you move to the side so that the trigger is moving past you (instead of towards you), this may help your dog.

Even better, position yourself so that your dog gets to watch the trigger moving away from you instead! Hide behind a visual barrier like a car or a hedge so that your dog does not watch the trigger approaching. Once it is far enough past you, step out from behind the visual barrier and do your exposure games.

#4 Try a Stuffie or a Statue First

Two comic panels. In the first: in the bottom left a silhouette of a dog facing away from the viewer with a speech bubble above its head containing an exclamation point. In the upper right, a labrador retriever facing to the right of the panel. In the second panel, the same silhouette in the bottom left but with an ellipsis in the speech bubble, and in the upper right, a labrador shaped stuffed animal.

Some dogs are so sensitive to their triggers that they must start with something trigger-like first. I’ve had decent success with stuffed dogs and statues of cats or squirrels.

Some dogs find these weird stiff unmoving versions even more upsetting, so your mileage may vary! If your dog is even worse with these options, you may have to get creative with combining the other three suggestions.

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