• Breed page: Breed Name – Full Guide
• YouTube video: Watch the full training session

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Understanding Motion Reactivity in Dogs

Motion reactivity is a fast, emotional response triggered by sudden movement: a runner passing by, a cyclist, or another dog approaching quickly.
In Gala’s case, she reacts by chasing the runner and nipping at the pants. This behavior is not aggression — it’s instinct-driven:

A moving object → triggers prey/play drive → the dog wants to chase and catch.

This pattern is extremely common, especially in young or working breeds. Without proper training, it becomes a stable unwanted habit.

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Why Dogs React to Runners and Fast Movement

1. Natural chase instinct

Breeds with high drive are more likely to chase moving targets.

2. Low emotional threshold

The dog becomes overstimulated before it can process the situation rationally.

3. Incorrect handling from humans

Begging, yelling, or emotional tone makes the dog even more reactive.

4. No alternative behavior learned

If the dog doesn’t know what to do, it chooses instinct — chase.

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The Core Training Principle: Behavioral Selection

The goal is not to “stop” reactivity by force, but to teach an alternative behavior:

• sit,
• focus on the handler,
• stay still,
• ignore distractions.

We reinforce the correct choice and remove attention from the wrong one.

This is the foundation of stable behavior for any reactive dog.

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Step-by-Step Training Protocol (as shown in the video)

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1. Establishing the Sit Response Through Upward Leash Pressure

The dog must understand:

slight upward tension → sit → marker → reward

Training sequence:

1. Apply gentle upward pressure.
2. The dog sits.
3. Mark the moment.
4. Reach for food after the marker.
5. Reward calmly.

This creates a reliable, mechanical behavior you can use during reactivity.

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2. Working Around Movement and Runners

Objective:
Teach the dog not to chase movement.

Method:

1. Put the dog in a sit.
2. A runner or a person walks past.
3. If the dog stays calm → reinforce.
4. If the dog reacts → calmly reset, no emotion.
5. Repeat until the dog learns that staying calm = reward.

The dog must extinguish the impulse on its own, not through force.

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3. Managing the Distance to the Trigger

Distance is your main tool.

• Too close → the dog explodes.
• Too far → no learning happens.

Rule:
If the dog is overexcited → increase distance.
If the dog is calm → decrease distance.

This gradually builds confidence.

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4. Building Focus in the Presence of Distractions

Use neutral, calm vocal tone.
Reward small moments of attention.

The goal:
Runner appears → dog immediately switches to handler → reward.

This is the opposite of the dog’s natural instinct, but extremely effective.

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5. Working with Another Calm Dog (Fear Component)

Reactivity often contains fear.
So we introduce a quiet, stable dog.

Steps:

1. Keep both dogs at safe distance.
2. Reward your dog for looking at you, not the other dog.
3. Decrease distance only when calm.
4. Sniffing should start from behind — not face-to-face.
5. Parallel walking helps normalize the presence.

This reduces fear and builds social stability.

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Common Mistakes Owners Make

1. Using emotions
   Raising voice, saying “please, stop”, nervous movements — all of this increases reactivity.
2. Showing the dog the food
   The dog stops learning and simply tries to get the treat.
3. Pulling sideways or backwards
   This creates resistance and tension.
4. Rewarding during high arousal
   The dog learns the opposite behavior.
5. Getting too close too fast
   This causes a reactive explosion.

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Training Result (as in the video)

After the correct protocol, Gala was able to:

• stop chasing runners
• sit calmly under pressure
• ignore movement
• maintain focus on the trainer
• approach a calm dog without fear
• avoid slipping back into emotional overarousal

Full demonstration here:
Watch the YouTube session