Reactive Dogs & Mountain Goats: When Training Gets Wild

Guest: Rachel Harris- Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Owner of A Good Feeling Dog Training

Episode Summary

Join Dr. Chelsea and Trish as they welcome Rachel Harris, a certified professional positive reinforcement dog trainer with 14 years of experience specializing in reactive and aggressive dog behavior. From her humble beginnings with Sonny, a terrified pit bull who became an agility champion, to wild adventures with her fearless American Staffordshire Terrier Waylon, Rachel shares honest stories about the joys and challenges of working with "spicy" dogs.

Key Topics Discussed

• Rachel's journey into dog training and how reactive dogs "chose her"
• The importance of collaboration between veterinarians, vet techs, and dog trainers
• Virtual training programs and why they're often more effective than in-person sessions
• Understanding that reactive dogs aren't "bad" - they're overwhelmed and struggling
• Creative solutions for vet visits with anxious or reactive dogs
• The spectrum of dog behavior and bite incidents

Unhinged Stories Featured

• Frisco the Labrador's chocolate pretzel heist
  • A 20-minute chase around a training facility
• Waylon breaks into a stranger's house
  • Through a cat door to chase their cat (while pit bulls were still banned in Denver!)
• Mountain goat standoff at 14,000 feet
  • Waylon goes nose-to-nose with wildlife on a fourteener summit

Resources Mentioned

• Website: AGFDogTraining.com
• Instagram: @agoodfeelingdogtraininginc (74K+ followers)
• Podcast: Disorderly Dogs (archive of episodes available)
• Adventure Dog Academy
  • Follow Rachel's hiking adventures
• Reactive Redefined
  • Virtual training program for reactive dogs

Key Takeaways

• Dogs who react or growl are communicating discomfort, not being "bad"
• Reactive dogs can live full, expansive lives with proper management
• Virtual coaching can be highly effective because it trains the human-dog partnership
• Most "aggressive" dogs are actually scared, overwhelmed, or struggling to self-regulate
• Creative solutions and humility are essential when working with any animal

Connect With Rachel

• Website: AGFDogTraining.com
• Instagram: @agoodfeelingdogtraininginc
• Podcast: Disorderly Dogs

Connect With Unhinged and On-Call

• Website: unhingedandoncall.com
• Email: chat@unhingedandoncall.com
• YouTube: Watch full video episodes with visual content
• Submit your story to be a guest via the website form

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Remember: You're unhinged, but never alone.