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The #1 Mistake Keeping Reactive Dogs Stuck: When Walks Do More Harm Than Good
Manage episode 507794642 series 3660518
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Is your reactive dog still struggling—even with daily walks, enrichment, and “doing everything right”? You’re not failing. In this solo episode, Em shares the hard truth she learned with Fitz: he wasn’t under-exercised—he was overstimulated. The more they walked, the more dysregulated he became.
💡 You’ll learn:
• How to recognize dysregulation (and why it’s not “just high energy”)
• Why traditional walk-based advice can keep reactive dogs stuck
• What Em did instead—step by step—to help Fitz actually relax
• Walk-free alternatives that support regulation, rest, and safety
• How to release the guilt of “not doing enough” and do what works
If you’re burning yourself out trying to meet every standard of “good dog parenting,” this episode offers a gentler, more sustainable way forward—for both of you.
Follow Straight Up Dog Talk on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for judgment-free episodes that help big-feeling dogs (and their humans) thrive.
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👉 Grab the free enrichment guide: Paws, Brains, and Fun
✨ Stay Connected
🌐 Website + More Resources: straightupdogtalk.com
🆓 Book your free training or nutrition consult: straightupdogtalk.hbportal.co/schedule/668856198dc476001953809b
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💛 About Straight Up Dog TalkHelping dog parents who love their dog but feel lost—ditch the guilt, decode the behavior, and finally build the life you both deserve. Subscribe for judgment-free conversations about reactivity, enrichment, nutrition, and real advocacy.
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