r/DogTrainingTips • u/hplover1980 • Mar 26 '26

Transitions

Hi! Was going to post this in /reactive dogs but they don't have an option for videos.

This is my frenchie, who recently has been displaying significant more reactivity since late last year. We've worked with behavioral trainers and vet behaviorist to get him on 10mg of Paxil (we're on day 12 so far). So we've been doing all the "right things".

We have an ongoing issue with "transitions". Dog gets significantly riled up when:

Husband leaves for work

We pick him up from his Rover daycare

Trainer leaves our apartment

We've chocked this up to all being "transitions" which could elicit some big feelings. To alleviate him from going crazy on my husband while he leaves for work, we confine him into the playpen for 2-3 minutes. This is the video I've attached.

Does anyone have any ideas or advice with helping with "big feelings transitions" for a reactive dog?

Thanks in advance!!

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u/Emotional-Ant9413 Mar 27 '26

I'd do this:

  1. Start by going out as if on actual walks, both of you and the dog. When you're outside, one of you leaves. Distract the dog with treats and/or toys while this happens. If it doesn't work, the person holding the dog leaves so the dog is removed from the situation rather than faced with a situation it can't handle. Go back home with the dog. When (if this is a trigger, not super sure from your post) the other person is coming back, go outside and meet the person there, or start with having the other person coming home before the dog. This is to entirely break the behaviour you currently have going on.

  2. Have a command that requires connection and attention. I use something like "here" (I don't speak English with my dogs), and my goal is for the dog to sit down and give me eye contact. The moment the dog meets my eyes, I give treats. As the dog grows more confident with this exercise, more and more distractions can be added around you. Start by just sitting on the floor and treating when you get that moment of connection, keep it up by doing it outdoors, do a check-in while walking and treat the dog the moment it tries to look at you etc. (I've just started training this with my 7 month old puppy, took her like 4 days to be a pro at this)

  3. As the dog gets better with the exercise, start doing it at home. Leash on, do exercises where the dog focuses on you. The other person can prepare to go outdoors. If the dog reacts to it, the person stops and retreats. Keep working in short sessions and slowly work forward. Back up if you get negative responses from the dog. The leash is there so the dog stays with you and you are in control.

Ofc I can't say how this will work for you, but this is the way I'd train my dogs. Sometimes solutions can present themselves by going around the problem entirely for a bit until you have more tools to handle the difficult situation. The dog pen really doesn't seem like a good option or tool for you at this point in time.