The Reactivity Reset
Understand why your dog reacts — so you can start changing the behaviour properly.
Does your dog bark, lunge, growl, freeze or become overwhelmed around other dogs, people or everyday situations?
Perhaps walks have become stressful and you are constantly scanning ahead, crossing the road, changing direction or reaching for treats before your dog reacts?
You may have tried distraction, avoidance, training tips, classes, social media advice, and even ChatGPT but are still struggling and can’t understand why the behaviour is happening.
Reactivity is not a diagnosis. It is a behavioural response.
Two dogs can show almost identical barking or lunging for completely different reasons: fear, frustration, anxiety, over-arousal, pain or discomfort, previous learning, social experiences — or a combination of factors.
Before we decide how to change behaviour, we first need to understand what is driving it.
START THE REACTIVITY RESET — £14
14 days for £14
A structured online programme created by Clinical Canine Behaviourist Paula O’Sullivan to help you understand your dog’s reactivity and begin making meaningful, ethical behavioural change.
The internet is full of advice about what to do when a dog reacts. Far less attention is given to the question that matters most:
Why is the reaction happening?
Barking and lunging are behaviours, but they do not tell us the underlying cause. If we only try to stop the visible reaction, we risk treating the symptom rather than understanding the emotion or motivation underneath it.
Why does my dog react?
Why does my dog react?
Dog reactivity is an intense behavioural response to a trigger or situation. It may include barking, lunging, growling, staring, freezing, pulling towards or away, vocalising, fixation or becoming unable to disengage.
Reactivity does not automatically mean aggression, and it does not tell us whether a dog is fearful, frustrated, anxious, over-aroused or struggling for another reason. That is why every reactive dog should not be treated with the same training plan.
What you will learn
Understand the root cause — explore fear, frustration, anxiety, arousal, previous learning, social experience and physical discomfort.
Identify your dog’s triggers — move beyond broad labels such as “dogs” or “people” and notice the specific contexts that matter.
Find your dog’s threshold — understand how distance, intensity, duration, environment and previous events affect coping.
Read the signals before the explosion — recognise earlier changes in body language, arousal and behaviour.
Understand trigger stacking — learn why your dog may cope one day and react much sooner on another.
Use distance effectively — understand why creating space is not failure and can create the conditions needed for learning.
Understand behaviour modification — learn the principles behind counterconditioning and systematic desensitisation.
Know when more investigation is needed — recognise when pain, health concerns or severe behaviour may need veterinary or individual behavioural assessment.
This is not about simply stopping the barking
Of course we want the explosive reactions to reduce. But suppressing the outward behaviour is not the same as changing the underlying response.
If a dog is frightened, I want to help change how they feel. If they are frustrated, I need to understand what is creating that frustration. If something hurts, training alone is not the answer.
Behaviour is communication. Connection, not correction.
Short lessons. Big concepts. Real-life application.
You are not just buying a course
Short, digestible 5 minute video lessons
Behavioural science explained clearly
Practical exercises you can apply to your own dog
Online access wherever you live
Posters, worksheets and resources to document progress
Work at your own pace and revisit lessons whenever you need them
When you join the Reactivity Reset, you also become part of the Dogs by Paula behaviour community.
• Structured Reactivity Reset lessons with a clear pathway through the foundations of behaviour modification.
• Direct access to Paula through the platform, with opportunities to ask questions.
• Free live Q&A sessions where Paula answers member questions and explores common behavioural problems.
• Free guest expert sessions covering areas relevant to canine behaviour, health and wellbeing.
• Discounted online consultations with Paula if you need more individual support.
• Continued supporting videos, PDFs and educational resources.