How ride you follow the rules that are quite reasonable and for safety.

It’s so cute holy cow

This is a huge step towards reducing the distance of dogs before she gets nervous.

When else is a flight cue useful? For Ruby- we are building up to her going to her safe space in her house when loud noises happen.

We taught Ruby a behavior that means “turn around” then starting practicing with things that weren’t stressful. Then dogs on walks moving around. She’s now started turning around on her own after watching dogs for a little.

After giving them the option to disengage, decompression techniques like "Find It" and fun cues help redirect their focus and promote relaxation. For Ruby, these tools have been key in creating positive experiences and helping her cope with stress in a healthy way.

For the record, I don’t believe any behavior is inherently a problem. But I understand how others might see them that way. It’s okay to feel those pressures and still know in your heart how much you and your pet are doing. 💛

What defines us as pet parents isn’t whether our pets are “perfect”—it’s how much we love, care, and commit to bettering their lives and our own understanding of them.

But that mindset didn’t give either of us enough credit. So much of our time together was spent meeting his needs, helping him feel safer, and creating moments of joy. His “negative” behaviors didn’t mean I loved him any less or that he wasn’t living a full, happy life.

With my dog Auggie, I often felt frustrated and disappointed when he reacted to dogs across the street, trembled at the vet’s office, or ran away from nail trimmers. I worried that these behaviors were a reflection of me—that I wasn’t doing enough or wasn’t a good pet parent.

Animal welfare is directly related to human welfare. I advocate for force-free training with awareness of systemic oppression.

Hashtags: #FearfulDogs #ForceFree #PositiveReinforcement #ReactiveDogs #ColoradoAnimalTrainer #ClickerTraining #NervousDogs #AnimalWelfare

Have you ever used predictor cues? What situations could they help your pet with? Let’s chat in the comments!

If your dog gets startled or nervous when people stand, try introducing a cue like “standing” in a calm, familiar environment with familiar people. It’s a small step that can lead to big progress! I also love using predictor cues in cooperative care and reactivity.

For Mochi, this is part of a larger plan to help her feel safe around unfamiliar people, including teaching her to approach and leave on her own, practicing safe spaces, and addressing physical pain.

In the video, you’ll see how I’ve paired the cue “standing” with tossing a treat for Mochi. This helps her prepare for the movement and encourages her to move away, making the situation feel less scary.

A “predictor cue” gives your pet a heads-up about what’s about to happen, giving them time to prepare. Whether it’s an internal adjustment or a chance to move away or say no, this simple tool can make a world of difference for anxious pets (and humans too).