Introduction To My Book Loving Mick, My Reactive Dog.

INTRODUCTION
Reactivity is very common. Research shows that 75% of dog owners say they have a dog that shows some signs of reactivity. Many of these owners are frustrated and at a loss as to how to help their beloved dog. Is there hope? Yes, absolutely!

This is the story of how and why Mick became a reactive dog, beginning in puppyhood and continuing to adulthood. It is also the honest story of early mistakes that I, Laura, his owner and trainer, made with him, my realization of those mistakes, and my successful retraining of Mick.

The most important lesson Mick taught me was that once a dog is overstimulated, no amount of force and insistence will calm them down. I had been training dogs for nearly 30 years, but I was at a loss as to how to handle Mick. He was my fourth Belgian Tervuren, but he was a completely different animal! I was in over my head. Mick was a complicated and intense dog, and he was my dog. That made me vulnerable. I loved Mick more than anything and often gave in to him. Discipline is synonymous with love, but my emotions were confusing things. I had to learn a better way to communicate with my Mick, and it would never be with a shock collar.

Living with a reactive dog gave me the experience, empathy, knowledge, and opportunity to share the valuable information I learned. I wrote this book in hopes of helping as many dog owners as possible to train their beloved companion to be the very best dog in the world.