1. With Ellen Naumann CPDT-KA/CBATI
Reducing Reactivity
With Ellen Naumann
CPDT-KA/CBATI

2. Professional Assistance for Reactivity
Reducing Reactivity always takes into consideration a visit with
Your veterinarian
A holistic veterinarian 
One of LA’s three Veterinarian Behaviorists
Dr. Sueda, Dr. Cho or Dr. Rachel

3. PLEASE BE ADVISED… Behavior is never a guarantee. Dogs are not robots.
Reactivity is part of an animal’s natural repertoire. There’s no evidence to suggest that an animal exists without some form of reactivity.
This is advanced material for advanced behavior.
Our goal is to provide you with greater understanding and skill sets on how to Reduce Reactivity.

4. What You Will Learn ABC’s of Behavior
Canine body language, specifically identifying precursors to reactivity
How to set up the environment to set up for success
How to empower your dog and to provide them with greater controllability and predictability
The choices in how to help Reduce Reactivity. There are a few, but we will focus on two:
BAT
Classical Counter-Conditioning

5. What is Reactivity?
Animals who respond to normal stimuli with an abnormal (higher-then-normal) level of intensity – Dr. Karen Overall

6. Learning Your ABC’s Antecedent – Behavior – Consequence
So where do we start?
Learning Your ABC’s Antecedent – Behavior – Consequence

7. ABC of Behavior : “A” is for Antecedent
Antecedent– What takes place before the behavior?
Health (senior health, thyroid, sore joints, poor nutrition)
Arousal Level (over stimulated, exhausted, trigger stacking)
Cues from us (leash goes tight) or the environment (dog appears)
Change the Antecedent and you will begin to Reduce Reactivity

8. ABC of Behavior: “B” is for Behavior
Behavior – The behavior itself
What is your dog’s Reactive Behavior?

9. ABC of Behavior: “C” is for Consequence
Consequence – The RESULT of the behavior
What Happens as a result of that behavior?
Did the leash get tight or loose?
Were they forced to stay put?
Did the scary dog move away? Did your dog move away?
Did they avoid conflict?
Did food or a high value reinforcer appear?
What happened?
Will the consequence likely make that behavior appear again?
Did it work for the dog?

10. A – B - C Antecedent: Walk past dogs barking behind a fence.
Behavior : Bark back, lunge, move faster
Consequence: Kept those dogs away / Kept us safe!
A: Dog approaches on sidewalk
B: Make leash shorter, tighter
C: Kept dog close to me so he didn’t get away!
Can you think of the ABCs for your dog?

11. Remember…
Every time you and your dog get a chance to practice behavior that’s reinforced, you’ll get better at it.
“Good” or “bad” – behavior will get stronger.
Set yourselves up for success and learn your ABCs!

12. (A) Antecedent Arrangements
The Antecedent: Context & Environment Where? + When? = Why? Changing the Antecedent(s) is the first step towards changing behavior. ”Antecedent Arrangement” = Setting up for success!

13. The Environment Matters
Set Your Dog Up For Success by Setting Up The Environmental Antecedents
Open – Wide – Entrance - Exits
Rich in smells (natural and added) – texture – visually diverse
Reduce risk of potential triggers - obstacles – big elevation changes

14. ***BEHAVIOR IS FLUID***
(B) Behavior
Set Your Dog Up for Success By Learning Their Body Language
Identifying the signs of calm and relaxed, even happy!
Identifying the signs of uncertainty, stress, anxiety
Identifying Warning Signals to Back-Off
***BEHAVIOR IS FLUID***
It’s like a casserole dish; not one behavior = the complete picture
Look at all behaviors, in context

15. Read the Dog Zoom Room Guide to Dog Body Language
Dog Sense

16. Precursors to Reactivity (uncertainty, fear, stress, anxiety)
Mouth – moves from open to closed, tongue flick, yawn, panting, tight, won’t eat food (or take a toy)
Nose – suddenly sniffing, sneezing
Eyes – wide, white, pupils dilated, averted, furrowed brow
Ears – tall, forward and tall, pulled back, flattened,
Head – lowered, sideways turned away (avoidance), pulled back, taller

17. Precursors to Reactivity (uncertainty, fear, stress, anxiety)
Body carriage – backing up, curved to get smaller, linear, taller,
Legs – paw raised, stiff, wide, up on their toes, taller
Tail – moves out of normal position: lower, straighter, slower OR higher, tighter, faster

18. Precursors to Reactivity (uncertainty, fear, stress, anxiety)
Body Movement - Stops moving, moves faster or slower, climbing up, scratching, self-grooming, penis crowning, genital check
Vocalization – high-pitched whine, whimper, chuff, bark
Other – piloerection (hackles), sudden urination, scratch marking after urination, abnormal marking

19. (B) BUILDING BETTER BEHAVIOR
Controllability and Predictability Key to Building Behavior
One aspect of controllability is predictability that comes from knowing that one is safe due to one’s own behavior. – Grisha Stewart BAT
Reducing Reactivity through BAT (Behavior Adjustment Training)
Human Behavior B) Dog Behavior
- Following the Dog - Head Turns
- Loose Lead - Calmly moving in any direction
- Soft Prompts - Smelling

20. (C) CONSEQUENCES of the behavior
What are the Consequences to those Behaviors ? C) Dog and You feel safe and comfortable; avoid conflict The more this new “good” behavior is reinforced, the stronger it will get; the more comfortable the dog will feel. The less they’ll need to use reactivity.

21. BAT BASICS Set-Up Area with selected Helper Dog (Fake Dog)
Large, open, rich in smells, visually diverse, entrance, exit
Objects placed or food sprinkled
Ability to communicate to each other (phone, walkie-talkie)
Proper Equipment
Back-clip Harness, Long Lead, Treat Bag (just in case)
Leash Skills

22. Proper Equipment: Harness & Leash
Back-Clip Harness
Freedom Harness
Balance Harness
Long Lead 15’
BAT Leash
Soft Lead
Treat Bag
Smelly Treats Poop Bag

23. Leash Skills HANDLE SOFT PROMPTS FOLLOW THE DOG SLIDE FLOPPY EARS
MIME PULLING
BRAKING DISTANCE
GATHERING
LENGTHENING
SLOW STOP

24. BAT SET-UPS Selected Set-Up Area Proper Equipment
Helper Dog w/ Handler
Student Dog w/ Handler
Distance
Be Prepared: Food, Exit

25. Mark & Move
Close Encounters, Tight Spaces, Sudden Environmental Change
Mark (Yes! Click)
Move 10 feet or more
Bonus Reward (Food, Toy, Praise)

26. Universal Truths… Animals are constantly
selecting and deselecting behavior
based on consequences.
– Dr. Susan Friedman
Success is reinforcing!