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Overview
Three phases to build a calmer, happier Milo outdoors.
Understanding this history, I saw that positive-only training did not address the issue. It avoided the problem instead of addressing the behaviour. With the balanced trainer, it was suppression and deprivation, without genuinely addressing the root cause or methodically building up his ability to listen in higher stake situations.
Milo being explosive to dogs is 80% rooted in fear and suspicion of other dogs. The remaining 20% is lunging he has rehearsed over time.
Because the underlying emotion was never dealt with, being made to hold a stay in front of his triggers only kept it bottled up. It never answered the question in his head: how do I know if other dogs are safe, and why is there this mystique around them that I cannot go and check? So the aversives had to keep climbing.
Aside from that, the engagement between Milo and his owners is poor outdoors. They do not share a common understanding of how a behaviour is asked for and then paid. When something is asked it is do it or get a leash pop, with no relationship behind it. That is a vicious cycle: they cannot train well outdoors, so there is no relationship to lean on when he reacts.
The plan is focused on the emotional side: his fear and suspicion of dogs he has never met up close, and a strong bond with his owners outdoors.
It runs in three phases: relationship building, then obedience, then meeting other dogs and taking the reactivity down.
Build trust, clarity and joy with his owners.
The plan
Three phases, written by your trainer
Food and toys do not interest him outdoors. So the lead is what guides him, and being let go is the reward.
We are here when something new happens, or today feels harder than expected.