Reactivity & aggression
Reactive & aggressive dog training
Barking, lunging, growling and lead aggression are the most common problems we work on every week. 1-to-1, in-person training across Yorkshire and the North East — built around your dog, your walks and your triggers.
What reactivity actually looks like
Reactivity is an over-the-top response to something your dog can't cope with — usually other dogs, people, traffic or noise. It isn't disobedience, and it rarely improves on its own. Left alone, most dogs rehearse it until it becomes a habit.
- Barking and lunging at other dogs on the lead
- Growling or snapping at people approaching you or your home
- Freezing, hackles up or a hard stare before an outburst
- Pulling frantically to get away from — or towards — a trigger
- Redirecting onto the lead, your hands or clothing
- Refusing food or treats the moment a trigger appears
How we fix it
Every programme is designed and delivered personally by James, a professional trainer with 8+ years and 400+ dogs behind him. The order of the work matters as much as the work itself:
1. Pre-Training Consultation
We meet you and your dog, see the behaviour in context and identify the real triggers, thresholds and patterns. You leave with an honest assessment and a plan of action — not a sales pitch.
2. Foundations before triggers
Clear communication, engagement, lead handling and a reliable settle come first. Most reactivity cases fail because owners rush to the trigger before the dog can even focus.
3. Structured trigger work
We work at a distance your dog can cope with and shrink it gradually. Calm, clear consequences and rewards — never chaos, never flooding.
4. Real-world proofing
Busy pavements, narrow park paths, cafés and passing dogs. We train in the places you actually walk, so the change holds when we're not there.
5. Graduation & ongoing support
Lifetime support plus access to our community pack walks, so you keep maintaining the behaviour long after the programme ends.
Timelines & pricing
All sessions are in-person and we come to you. Pay-in-3 plans available on every programme.
Pre-Training Consultation
From £95.00
One 60–90 minute session
Full behavioural assessment and a clear plan of action you can start straight away.
12-week programme
From £495.00
12 weeks, most reactivity cases
Foundations, structured trigger work and real-world proofing, with support between sessions.
1-week intensive
From £895.00
1 intensive week + maintenance
Front-loaded work for faster change, plus lifetime support and access to group walks.
Not sure which fits? The free assessment tells you honestly — including if we're not the right fit for your dog.
Book your free behavioural assessment
30-Minute Assessment
Understand the problem. Leave with a plan of action
Reactive dog training — common questions
Can a reactive or aggressive dog actually be fixed?
In the vast majority of cases, yes — reactivity is a behaviour, not a personality. With clear structure, correct handling and a plan matched to your dog, most owners see meaningful change within the first 2–3 sessions. Severe bite-history cases are assessed individually and we'll always be honest about what's realistic.
How long does reactivity training take?
Most reactivity cases run through our 12-week programme, which gives enough repetition across real environments for the new behaviour to stick. Where owners want faster progress, the 1-week intensive front-loads the work and we then support you through the maintenance phase.
What does it cost?
Pre-Training Consultations start at £95.00, the 12-week programme starts at £495.00 and the 1-week intensive course starts at £895.00. All sessions are in-person and we come to you. We offer owners the option to spread the cost with our pay-in-3 plan.
Do you use aversive methods?
We use balanced training: clear rewards, clear boundaries and fair, well-timed information so your dog always knows how to get it right. Nothing is done in anger, nothing is rushed, and everything is explained to you first.
My dog is only reactive on the lead — is that the same thing?
Lead reactivity is the most common form we see. It's usually a mix of frustration, poor lead handling and no clear alternative behaviour, which is exactly what the programme addresses.
Where we train
Reactivity work happens in the places you actually walk. Pick your area: