Reactive Dogs! Why Dog Owners Need To Know About Green, Yellow And Red Zones And Social Sensitivity #296
Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett
DogsThat
4.8 • 679 Ratings
🗓️ 21 February 2025
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Visit us at shapedbydog.com
Socially sensitive dogs can react to other dogs in many ways. Some shrink away, others get invigorated and overexcited, and some dogs are proactively reactive. When you know if your dog is in the green, yellow or red zone and the three phases to action, you can build their resilience and set them up for success so they can thrive in any environment. Understanding a dog’s response to other dogs and having a Code Yellow Protocol is key to helping them feel safe and confident.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why some dogs are socially sensitive and what that looks like.
• The three phases to help your dog gain confidence.
• How to grow confidence passively and actively.
• Fun games to help your dog grow confidence in a safe way.
• About the importance of the Relaxation Protocol.
• The importance of a "Home Zone" for socially sensitive dogs.
• Why dogs in a highly aroused state can’t learn.
• About a dog’s Green, Yellow and Red Zones
• How to use the Code Yellow Protocol to help your dog.
• The role of reflection and recharging in your dog’s progress.
• How to recognize when your dog is ready for the next step.
• About turning everyday moments into confidence-building opportunities.
• How Home School the Dog can give you the tools to support your dog’s progress.
Home School the Dog:
Write to us at [email protected] with the subject line “Socially Sensitive” for a very special opportunity to join us in Home School The Dog.
Learn How To Play ItsYerChoice:
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Resources:
1. Podcast Episode 236: Understanding Dog Fear (Part 1): Genetics, Trauma, And Your Dog’s Well-being - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/236/
2. Shaped by Dog Podcast - http://shapedbydog.com/
3. Podcast Episode Search for ‘Reactivity’ - https://dogsthat.com/?s=reactivity
4. YouTube Playlist: Reactive or Aggressive Dogs: Key Insights with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy0Tbd6ZybIXgJk3mtpBLLk7&si=l3sqeZ-ZdglQrbzf
5. Podcast Episode 81: Sudden Aggression and Your Dog’s Thyroid - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/81/
6. Podcast Episode 204: Dog Behavior And Diet: Recovery For This! Beyond Dog Training Part 2 - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/204/
7. Podcast Episode 191: Get Your Dog To Calm Down With This Common Sense Protocol For Relaxation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/191/
8. YouTube Video: Susan Garrett’s Hand Target: Dog Training Games Within Games - https://youtu.be/_WH3nm9FR4A?si=1W4dY-qutc1KhoOx
9. Podcast Episode 18: 4 Puppy and Dog Training Games for Acquired Bite Inhibition - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/18/
10. YouTube Video: Susan Garrett’s Perch Work Dog Tricks (Pivots and Spins) - https://youtu.be/O6sj6fTJnFc?si=XqtLyRfoHpEBzF18
11. YouTube Video: Understanding You Dog’s Reinforcement Zone (RZ) with Susan Garrett - https://youtu.be/OaUAScgaFAg
12. YouTube Playlist: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3ylCyQ2bJQSCwo_ERiVHj3&si=mHzTcBxTZ0AqY-gA
13. Podcast Episode 278: Food Puzzles: Key Mistakes To Avoid And Strategies To Help Your Dog Best Deal With Frustration - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/278/
14. Podcast Episode 227: My Foolproof Strategy To Overcoming Dog Training Challenges - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/227/
15. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/DgMZRuNm_q8
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | One of the most common questions we get asked about here at dogs that is that of the response |
| 0:06.8 | people's dogs have to other dogs, particularly when they meet them on leash dogs that they've |
| 0:12.8 | never seen before or it could be dogs they have seen before, something that we're going to |
| 0:17.6 | call the socially sensitive dog. Hi, I'm Susan Garrett. Welcome to Shape by Dog. Now, the socially sensitive dog might take on |
| 0:36.3 | three different visuals. The first type of socially sensitive dog might take on three different visuals. The first type of socially |
| 0:40.1 | sensitive dog I want to address is a dog that sees another dog and they notice that other |
| 0:46.0 | dog but they kind of just shrink maybe against their owner's leg or behind the owner's back, |
| 0:52.2 | kind of peeking around at the dog. They're just not so sure and their |
| 0:56.5 | body language screams that they're not so sure. That dog will be met with empathy. Oh, what a sweetheart. |
| 1:04.3 | Oh, it's okay, honey. The second socially sensitive dog might get invigorated by the sight of other dogs. |
| 1:12.6 | If that dog's off leash, they might do things like tuck their tail and start spinning in a circle |
| 1:18.8 | or maybe just run laps of the room or if they're at a park, they might just take off and run laps. |
| 1:26.2 | If the other dog chases them, they might like get |
| 1:28.4 | really low and then kind of spring up again and run in an opposite direction. That dog gets |
| 1:33.3 | invigorated. That's a dog who gets invigorated because they're socially sensitive, |
| 1:38.5 | but they really don't know the best way to present or express themselves. Now, that dog might be met by somebody watching |
| 1:48.2 | from the outside with laughter. I bet he's a lot of fun. Oh, that looks like a really cool dog. |
| 1:53.4 | The other socially sensitive dog and the one I want to talk a little bit about today is the |
| 1:58.4 | dog that gets proactive. They take things into their own hands. I'm not |
| 2:02.5 | comfortable around these dogs and I'm going to be proactive by showing my teeth, maybe getting |
| 2:09.3 | myself puffy, maybe growling, maybe lunging forward and quickly air snapping. Snap, |
| 2:14.6 | snap, snap, snap. Now, that dog socially is met with a lot of judgment. |
... |
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