I asked what you all wanted to work on moving into the new year, and a huge number of you reached out about barking, overstimulation, and reactivity outside. People are not going to love this answer, but most of the time your dog is bored. When a dog has nothing to do, they tune into everything. Every sound. Every movement. Every trigger. The outside world becomes their entertainment. In some cases there may also be fear or insecurity involved, but boredom is a massive and often overlooked piece. If your dog spends their days entertaining themselves in the backyard, they are rehearsing behaviors. Fence fighting. Scanning. Reacting. Over arousal. Those behaviors do not stay in the yard. Behavior that is rehearsed becomes stronger. Dogs do not automatically know how to self regulate. Having a big yard does not mean a dog will go outside and make good choices. If anything, they will create their own job. And that job is usually barking, chasing, fence running, and reacting. Here is the part people miss. Reactivity feels good to the brain. The dog’s brain releases dopamine. It becomes reinforcing. The dog learns that being reactive feels rewarding, so they repeat it. That is how we create frustration based reactivity, barrier aggression, and dogs that lose their minds when they leave the property. So what do you do instead. Change the pattern of the day. Do not just let your dog out to entertain themselves. Leash walk them instead. Go outside and actively play ball or tug. Work on neutrality. Existing outside without reacting. Teach them how to disengage and settle. Be present. Coach the behavior you want to see. You will not see results overnight. This is about consistency. Showing up every day and giving your dog structure, purpose, and guidance. If you do not want your dog rehearsing undesirable behaviors, you have to remove the opportunity to rehearse them. Your backyard should not be a free for all. It should be a training environment. If this post made you uncomfortable, that is okay. Growth usually is.

Are you and your dog really ready for what’s coming next? 🐶🤍 Do you feel confident in your dog’s training as you go into the new year? Do you feel supported, or are you feeling stuck and unsure what to do next? Are you prepared for upcoming events, visitors, travel, routine changes, or new challenges this year? Training is not just about commands. It’s about confidence, communication, and having the right support when things feel hard. If there’s something you and your dog are struggling with, I want to help. What does your dog need more work on? What kind of support would make this year easier for you? Drop it in the comments or send me a message 📩 Let’s start the new year prepared, supported, and moving forward together. 🐾