14 days ago
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Posted On: October 2nd 2026, 06:21 pm
This month means we’re two months away from two whole years of reactivity life which is actually slightly horrifying because it’s simultaneously been the longest and fastest journey 😂
When Sawyer first became reactive we sort of assumed we’d do some training classes, figure out what was causing it, and then get back to “normal” within a few weeks. Instead it’s been nearly two years of learning, unlearning, changing plans, changing expectations, having great walks, having absolutely horrific walks and slowly realising that not only progress looks nothing like I thought it would but neither does life with Sawyer and that’s okay!
There was a long time where every reaction felt like proof we were doing something wrong. If he barked, lunged, fixated or couldn’t cope somewhere I’d come home analysing the entire walk desperately wondering what we should have done differently and beat myself up over it. Now? I obviously still care that he reacts BUT it doesn’t carry the same weight anymore. He can have a bad moment without it becoming a bad walk. We can leave somewhere without feeling like we failed. We can choose distance without feeling like we’re avoiding the problem. And we can look at how quickly he comes back down afterwards and recognise that as progress too.
I’d never choose the reactive life (it chooses you), but almost two years in I do think it’s made us understand him and other dogs in a way we probably never would have otherwise. So in a weird way, I’m grateful 🤍
#reactivedog #reactivedogs #dogreactivity #reactivity #reactivedogtraining
When Sawyer first became reactive we sort of assumed we’d do some training classes, figure out what was causing it, and then get back to “normal” within a few weeks. Instead it’s been nearly two years of learning, unlearning, changing plans, changing expectations, having great walks, having absolutely horrific walks and slowly realising that not only progress looks nothing like I thought it would but neither does life with Sawyer and that’s okay!
There was a long time where every reaction felt like proof we were doing something wrong. If he barked, lunged, fixated or couldn’t cope somewhere I’d come home analysing the entire walk desperately wondering what we should have done differently and beat myself up over it. Now? I obviously still care that he reacts BUT it doesn’t carry the same weight anymore. He can have a bad moment without it becoming a bad walk. We can leave somewhere without feeling like we failed. We can choose distance without feeling like we’re avoiding the problem. And we can look at how quickly he comes back down afterwards and recognise that as progress too.
I’d never choose the reactive life (it chooses you), but almost two years in I do think it’s made us understand him and other dogs in a way we probably never would have otherwise. So in a weird way, I’m grateful 🤍
#reactivedog #reactivedogs #dogreactivity #reactivity #reactivedogtraining
Comments (33)
10 days agowearealwaysfinley
Two years of showing up for Sawyer every single day 🤍 That's real dedication
12 days agothatcorgiaston
This is so lovely and so honest. Sawyer looks happy and comfy in his muzzle in that golden light, and posts like this make it easier for every reactive-dog family out there. Short kings doing their best 🧡
13 days agosrychcik
The recovery over reaction is helpful to hear! I have gotten better at reading the signs, power over my reaction or lack thereof and creating distance and time. Having a non food motivated dog makes training difficult sometimes, but hearing from other owners helps tremendously, so thank you for sharing 🐾
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