You spot another dog across the street. Your dog’s body tightens, and before you can move away, the barking and lunging start. Now you are holding the leash, apologizing, and wondering whether you can take a normal walk again.
I work with San Diego owners who know this routine. Lunging is a description of what we see, not an explanation of why it happens. One dog may be frightened. Another may be frustrated that it cannot reach the other dog. Another may have learned that a loud display makes the uncomfortable encounter end. I will not claim to know which is happening with your dog from a short description online.
What I look at before choosing a training plan
I want to know when the behavior began, what happens immediately before it, how far away the trigger is, how your dog responds afterward, and what you have already tried. I also watch how you and your dog move together. The details matter: a dog who can look at another dog from across a quiet street needs a different starting point from one who reacts the moment it leaves the front door.
Safety comes first. I do not start by forcing a difficult encounter or bringing a reactive dog into a crowded group to see what happens. We establish a workable starting distance and build handling skills you can practice between sessions. As your dog and your own timing improve, we can work toward the situations you actually face.
Why you are part of every session
I train with you and your dog together. I demonstrate what to do, watch you practice it, and adjust the plan to your routine. I do not take your dog away for weeks and return it with a set of behaviors you did not learn to maintain. The goal is for you to recognize an encounter early and know how to respond when I am not there.
Your first step
For serious reactivity or aggression, we begin with a 90-minute, $250 in-home assessment. I review your dog’s history, observe the behavior and your handling, and recommend a realistic next step. If the six-week behavior program fits, I will explain what we will work on and what practice you will do between sessions. I do not promise an instant cure or a fixed result for every dog.
If walks have become something you dread, learn about my private reactive dog training or contact me to discuss the assessment.