Amber, a 3-year-old terrier mix, had a tough time socializing with other dogs. Her reactivity made everyday situations stressful for both her and her pet parent, Bernice. In October, Bernice enrolled Amber in the Reactive Dog Group Class with instructor Claire Blumenthal, CPDT-KA, at Toronto Humane Society, and their journey towards a better understanding and bond began. 

When Amber first joined the class, she had an extremely low threshold for reactivity around other dogs. Any sudden noise or movement from a fellow classmate would immediately trigger lunging and barking, even when separated by visual barriers. Bernice felt overwhelmed by Amber’s behaviour and was unsure how to manage her dog’s anxiety. 

But with Claire’s expert guidance, Amber and Bernice began to make significant progress. Throughout the six-week course, Claire helped Bernice learn effective techniques to manage Amber’s reactivity and create positive associations with the presence of other dogs. By the third week, Amber, who had previously been hesitant to enter the classroom, began to show excitement and eagerness to learn. 

By the end of the course, Amber could calmly observe the other dogs in class from a distance without lunging or barking, a major milestone. Bernice felt a newfound sense of confidence in handling Amber’s reactivity, and their bond grew stronger as they worked together.