Taking your highly fearful and reactive dog on a trip

Taking your dogs out can require some mental preparation, even just for the simple daily walks. But taking them on a trip with other people and dogs is a whole different ball game – the amount of management and mental readiness needed can sometimes be overwhelming.

For me, mental preparation often outweighs the physical aspects. Even when I know I’ll manage the situation, I still need to anticipate potential stress from certain situations.

I have been avoiding taking Lucky on trips. But I’m improving, and I was fortunate to have found people who are happy to have us along. I believe that our connection is so strong that when we enjoy the moment, it positively affects our dogs. And the trip definitely made our bond stronger.

Remember, there is no need to make a big fuss about our dogs’ reactive moments. It is certainly something we learn from experience. Try to enjoy the adventures, celebrate the wins, and who knows, it might just come naturally to us one day 😌