Shows
Rethinking ReactivityStranger Directed Reactivity with Lisa MullinaxJoin the leash reactivity mentorship starting March 22ndThis episode is all about dogs that bark/lunge/growl at strangers, both on walks and inside the home. Lisa and I discuss:The difference between reactivity and aggressionHow to help dogs with stranger directed aggression acclimate to new peopleWhy "first impressions" are so important for these casesHow to tell if the dog is actually comfortable around a guestWhat to teach dogs who are reactive on leash towards peopleAnd so much moreAbout Lisa:Lisa Mullinax is approaching 25 years of experience in canine...
2026-02-201h 14
Rethinking ReactivityWhy You Can't Rule Out Pain in Dogs with Micaela Young and Mercedes SonnierGet on the waitlist for the next leash reactivity mentorship!Washington area folks – sign up for the seminar with Micaela and Mercedes here!Find the resource links mentioned in this episode here.Behavior issues in dogs are almost always symptoms of other underlying issues. So when we focus only on the behavior issue itself, we’re missing the bigger picture, often excluding interventions that would likely make a bigger impact on the dog’s behavior than training ever could. One of the most influential factors in a dog’s...
2026-02-011h 29
Rethinking ReactivityHow to Navigate the Real World with a Reactive Dog with Dan ClarkJoin me & Dan LIVE for a 2 day reactive dog workshop in Livermore, CA from February 14th-15th. Learn more and sign up here. Join the waitlist for the March 15th cohort for the Leash Reactivity Mentorship for Professionals AND get $50 off. If you have a reactive dog and you're out in the real world with them, it might feel like you are walking through a minefield. You have to keep track of and account for so many things - yourself, your dog, and whatever is going on in the env...
2026-01-161h 20
Rethinking ReactivityWhat Counter Conditioning Is Meant To Do with Dr. Simon GadboisIf you do a Google search on how to counter condition reactive behaviors on leash, it spits out a simplified version of the process. Use super high value treats, make sure your dog is under threshold, feed your dog when they notice another dog, and with time you'll change your dog's emotional state from a negative one to a positive one. Sounds great, right! So then why is it that some people will do this for years, and not get that result? Is it possible that people just don't have a full understanding of processes like counter conditioning, classical co...
2025-12-261h 15
Rethinking ReactivityGetting More Successful Outcomes with Clients with Jeff SilvermanDog trainers - ever wonder if you could be serving your clients better? In this episode I wanted to zoom out and look at dog training from the lens of the services we are providing for our clients, and how we can get better outcomes. I bring in Jeff Silverman from Training Tracks in Cincinnati, Ohio to unpack:How to build rapport with clients from the beginningWhy having a variety of services is necessary to meet your client's needs more effectivelyCreating clarity around the role of the client, and the role of the trainer i...
2025-12-111h 03
Rethinking ReactivityAll Barks Are Not Equal with Liz RandallBLACK FRIDAY SALE for dog professionals! From now until 12/5. Get $75 off the self study or $250 off the private: Reactivity Refined Course and Mentorship. Herding breeds are special dogs. Highly intelligent, sensitive, and with a die hard work ethic, they aren't designed for pet dog homes. What one might think of as reactivity in a herding breed, someone else might see natural behaviors we have bred them for. Why is it that herding breeds tend to display reactive behaviors more than other breed groups? And what can you do to support them more?In t...
2025-11-281h 00
Rethinking ReactivityReactivity in Newly Adopted Dogs with Tom CandyWhy is it that some dogs enter a new home and begin to develop reactivity, seemingly out of nowhere? This often comes as a surprise to their new families, who weren't expecting to dive into a life with a reactive dog. In this episode, I bring in Tom Candy to help unpack what is going on in these scenarios. We discuss:What the general public doesn't know about the animal sheltering world What contributes to a dog's behavior changing in a new homeHow to actively prevent reactivity from developing in a newly adopted dogHow to help a newly a...
2025-11-111h 19
Rethinking ReactivityWhat You Always Wanted to Know About Muzzles with Amy CreavenMuzzles are stigmatized, because they are often associated with dogs who are aggressive. But the truth is, dogs wear muzzles for many reasons. Muzzles can give dogs more freedom, humans more peace of mind, and a safer community for all to live in. In this episode, I talk with Amy Creaven, owner of Trust Your Dog, a company that makes custom biothane products to expand your dog's world. We dive into all aspects of muzzles and training including:How to ensure your muzzle is bite proofMuzzle training hacks anyone can doHow to ensure a p...
2025-10-181h 03
Rethinking ReactivityGamify Your Walks - How to Find Safety, Joy, and Relief Among Stressors with Alisha ArdianaI help both pet parents and dog professionals successfully address leash reactivity by asking the right questions, uncover what’s missing, and build solutions tailored to their unique needs. Imagine being a dog walker for reactive dogs in one of the densest cities in the United States - San Francisco. And then, imagine walking those dogs on 10-20 foot leashes. How do you balance giving a reactive dog the choice to move away from things that worry them, while also keeping the community safe?In today's episo...
2025-09-181h 13
The Bitey End of the DogCrossing the Line: Thresholds and Leash Reactivity with Jessica WheatcraftEver wondered why some dogs transform from perfect companions at home to reactive dynamos the moment a leash gets clipped on? Jessica Wheatcraft returns to discuss the complex world of leash reactivity with clarity and compassion that both dog guardians and professionals will appreciate.This conversation goes beyond simplistic solutions by exploring the subtle body language cues that signal stress long before barking begins. Jessica expertly differentiates leash reactivity from aggression, explaining how a dog's motivation on leash often stems from frustration rather than intimidation. "The dog's behavior on a leash can be very different than their...
2025-09-061h 07
Rethinking ReactivityConditioning Resilience for Reactive Dogs with Bobbie BhambreeJoin the leash reactivity mentorship starting this September 7th. Spots are going quickly!Reactive dogs face a lot of stressors in their daily lives, and for many, their ability to "bounce back" gets worse with time. What is resilience? What is going on when a dog's resilience is low? How can you help condition your dog to increase their resilience?In this episode I talk with Bobbie Bhambree CDBC, CPDT-KA on her and Dr. Kathy Murphy's Reframing Resilience framework. We cover:The neurobiology of resilienceWhat factors contribute t...
2025-08-1547 min
Rethinking ReactivityWhy Your Dog Isn't Responding to You with Jessica WheatcraftWhat is going on when a dog can stay responsive on their walk, UNTIL another dog comes around?I'm back with another solo episode, where I break down this scenario and help you better understand why your dog cannot respond to you, and what you can do about it. I cover:Proofing behaviors and why you probably haven't prepared your dog as much as you think you haveHow to be more effective at teaching your dog to respond to you around distractionsHow to understand the criteria you are setting, and how to be fluid in any...
2025-08-0339 min
Brain and BehaviourEpisode 9 - Rethinking Leash Reactivity with Jessica WheatcraftGuest BioJessica Wheatcraft, CDBC is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and professional dog trainer who has worked with thousands of dogs for over 17 years. She works with dog professionals virtually all over the world via her Leash Reactivity Mentorship for Professionals and online community, in addition to in-person seminars for trainers, behavior consultants and shelter staff. She specializes in leash reactivity cases, with an emphasis on understanding each dog as an individual and thinking outside of the box to implement the most effective, humane training solutions. She shares her life with her two...
2025-07-3057 min
Rethinking ReactivityWhere Do Dogs Come From? With Dr. Jessica Perry HekmanSign up for the leash reactivity mentorship for professionals that begins September 7th. Imagine a world where the average dog is healthy - both physically and behaviorally, for the majority of their lives. Imagine a world where shelters aren't overflowing with dogs because there are plenty of suitable homes for them. Imagine a world where it is the norm to live with a dog who goes through life without experiencing chronic behavior challenges. Where would these dogs come from? We'd have to breed them. In this episode, I bring in Dr. Je...
2025-07-2555 min
Rethinking ReactivityNerding Out on Thresholds with Sarah Shapiro WardFollow the Rethinking Reactivity Podcast on FB and IG.Join the waitlist for the leash reactivity mentorship and be the first to know when registration opens AND get $50 off. Thresholds are a concept, not something concrete, so it can be difficult to have a consensus as to what they actually are. To make this even more confusing, there are many types of thresholds that a dog can cross. In this episode, Sarah and I do our best to break this topic down. ...
2025-07-111h 20
Rethinking ReactivityFinding the Nuances and Getting Personal with Michael ShikashioFollow the Rethinking Reactivity Podcast on FB and IGJoin the waitlist for the leash reactivity mentorship and be the first to know when registration opens AND get $50 off. What happens when you get two behavior consultants and long time friends talking dogs, behavior, and life? In this episode, I talk with Michael Shikashio CDBC on a wide range of topics, while getting a bit philosophical along the way. Hear us discuss:How he differentiates reactivity and aggressionThresholds in behaviorWhy empathy is so important with clients (a...
2025-07-041h 11
Rethinking ReactivityA Client's Journey with Laura HanrahanThere are very few people who purposefully seek out a reactive dog to bring into their home - for most people, they find themselves in that scenario unexpectedly. And so their journey begins, seeking help for them and their dog, while trying to navigate a wide range of emotions about their situation. In today's episode, I bring in a client I worked closely with, to get her perspective on life with her reactive dog and what that journey was like, including the time we spent together. For Pet Professionals:The ...
2025-06-2542 min
Rethinking ReactivitySet Ups and Avoiding Common Mistakes with Jessica WheatcraftUtilizing set ups with an assistant and a helper dog, rather than relying on dogs from the general public, can be a critical component for many reactive dogs and their progress. In this episode I discuss:What set ups are What you need to execute a set up successfully5 common mistakes to avoid when executing set upsHow to know when a dog is ready to move beyond set ups and into real life applications Q&A from listenersResources:The 3 Ds in dog training articles:Blog by Sus...
2025-06-1437 min
Rethinking ReactivityReactive Dogs are Captive Dogs with Kim BropheyThe notion of pet dogs being captive dogs is sure to stir up some emotions. But the truth is, the lifestyle of your average pet dog in the U.S. has changed dramatically over the past few decades, and this hasn't been a long enough time for our dogs to adjust. Could this help explain why there are so many dogs with behavior challenges these days? In this episode, I bring in Kim Brophey FDM, CDBC, CPDT-KA to discuss how our modern lifestyles aren't matching up to the needs of our dogs. We talk ab...
2025-05-3059 min
Radio ChatskillRepublican Judicial Contests, Local Races Drive Interest in Pennsylvania PrimaryVoters across Pennsylvania cast ballots Tuesday in a slate of judicial and local primary races, many of which could shape the state’s legal and political future well beyond November. While primary elections are often quiet affairs, this year’s contests—particularly for two statewide Republican judicial seats—drew increased attention due to ongoing debates over election law, education funding, and the influence of the courts on public policy.The Republican primaries for Commonwealth Court and Superior Court were especially closely watched. Liam Mayo, reporter for The River Reporter, joined Tim Bruno on local radio to break down the...
2025-05-2114 min
Rethinking ReactivityUnpacking the Term Reactivity with Laurie LawlessThe term reactivity is a label, that is used to describe a variety of behaviors. And because it's a label, your definition of reactivity is likely different from someone else's. In this episode, I bring in Laurie Lawless CDBC, CPDT-KA to discuss what reactivity means to each of us, with both pet dogs and shelter dogs. We also unpack the term by discussing:What behaviors are commonly described as reactiveWhy it's so important to look beyond labels for dogs and understand them as individualsHow we determine a reactive dog's motivations to better understand the function of t...
2025-05-2150 min
Rethinking ReactivityThe Neurobiology of Frustration with Daniel ShawIf you have a dog who is reactive on leash, you may have wondered if they were feeling frustrated. And you're probably right - frustration is often a big component for dogs who are displaying leash reactivity. But what exactly is frustration, and what is going on inside of a dog's body while they're experiencing it? What can we do to help dogs cope better with frustration?In this episode I bring in Daniel Shaw, MSc CDBC to unpack the neurobiology of frustration. We discuss:What neuroscience is, and how it applies to modifying d...
2025-05-1554 min
Fenzi Dog Sports PodcastJessica Wheatcraft - "A Closer Look at Circle Work"Give this episode a listen to learn a bit more about Jessica, her background, what Circle Work is and what led her to develop it!
2025-04-1940 min
Cookie Crumbles CanineEpisode 12: Leash Reactivity with Jessica WheatcraftIn this episode we interview the Behavior Consultant Jessica Wheatcraft about training leash reactive dogs. We discuss what is leash reactivity, what are some of the factors that go through our brain when we're handling these cases, and Jessica explains how she developed course circles.Thank you so much for joining us! If you like what you hear, please hit the subscribe button. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us at our Cookie Crumbles Canine Facebook Page or email us at cookiecrumblescanine@gmail.com. Links: - https://www.jessicawheatcraft.com/ - https...
2024-05-0600 min
Dogs UnknownDon't Worry, She's FriendlyLeash reactivity (lunging and barking at dogs and people) is one of the most common issues people come to us for help with, and so many of our clients experience a ton of judgment and disparaging comments from other dog owners when out on walks. People ASSUME things about them and about their dog, based on that reactivity; "What's Wrong with that dog?" or "Why does their owner allow them to keep doing that?", or "They should really get some training". In this episode we discuss why these assumptions can be exceedingly incorrect, and how y...
2023-06-051h 07Dogs UnknownBehavior Therapy: Behind the Curtain Part 2 (The Behavior Consultants)This is Part 2 of "Behavior Therapy: Behind the Curtain". In Part 1, we had clients discuss what the behavior journey is like from their side. Today we flip the script and talk to some of our most experienced behavior consultants across INSTINCT to better understand what they do, and what can set you and your dog up for success.We discuss- What are common misconceptions about behavior consulting?- What tends to make clients successful in their behavior journey with their dog?- What are traits or beliefs that clients have that can make...
2023-05-011h 15
The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell39: Aggression in Dogs Con Mini-Series: with Jessica Wheatcraft, CDBC, CPDT-KA Part 5Send us a textPart 5 of the Aggression in Dogs Conference Mini-SeriesI talk with Jessica Wheatcraft about her work with aggression in dogs and leash reactivity. Guest: Jessica is the Owner and Director of Behavior and Training at Instinct Dog Training San Diego. She and her team help San Diego dogs and humans live better lives through practical, positive, and effective training & behavior programs.Jessica has over 15 years of training and behavior consulting experience, working with thousands of pet dogs and their families. She has specialized in behavior issues f...
2022-10-0742 min
The Deal with Animals with Marika S. Bell39: Aggression in Dogs Con Mini-Series: with Jessica Wheatcraft, CDBC, CPDT-KA Part 5Send us a textPart 5 of the Aggression in Dogs Conference Mini-SeriesI talk with Jessica Wheatcraft about her work with aggression in dogs and leash reactivity. Guest: Jessica is the Owner and Director of Behavior and Training at Instinct Dog Training San Diego. She and her team help San Diego dogs and humans live better lives through practical, positive, and effective training & behavior programs.Jessica has over 15 years of training and behavior consulting experience, working with thousands of pet dogs and their families. She has specialized in behavior issues f...
2022-10-0742 min
The Bitey End of the DogJessica Wheatcraft CPDT-KA, CDBCDogs that bark, growl, lunge, snarl, and snap when on-leash. Also known as leash reactivity, this is one of the most common issues a dog trainer may be asked to help with. In this episode of The Bitey End of the Dog, I have the pleasure of chatting with Jessica Wheatcraft, who I consider one of the best out there on understanding and working with this issue. Jessica and I take a deep dive into the topic of leash reactivity and explore advanced concepts that we can incorporate in even...
2022-09-121h 07