From a Reactive Dog’s Point of View: Why Space Matters More Than You Think

I’m not “bad.”

I know sometimes it looks that way.

When I bark too fast.
When I stiffen before anyone else notices.
When I react before you can explain that everything is fine.

But my world can feel very loud.

I notice everything. The new dog at the gate. The shift in energy. The dog who stares just a little too long. I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m trying to stay ahead of it.

Crowded places are hard for me. Not because I hate other dogs. Sometimes I even want to say hello.

I just don’t want surprises.

When you take me somewhere quiet, where I can sniff first and settle in, I feel different. My body softens. I can think. I can listen to you. I can be the dog you know I am at home.

I don’t need isolation.
I need space.

I need moments where I’m not scanning the horizon for what might happen next.

And when you give me that - whether it’s an empty field, a reserved yard, or just careful introductions - I trust you more.

I know you’re trying to help me.

I promise I’m trying too.

---

Book your visit thru Off-Leash or Sniffspot!