LEAD REACTIVITY

Does your dog lunge at other dogs, people or distractions while on lead?

Walks can quickly become stressful when your dog reacts strongly to something in their environment.

CBST & FBST Diploma
Qualified Professional

Calmer walks can feel possible.

Understand what may be driving your dog’s reactions and learn practical ways to support them on everyday walks.

HOW DOGAHOLICS CAN HELP

Support for lunging and stressful walks.

At Dogaholics, we help you understand why your dog may lunge towards other dogs, people, vehicles or distractions while on lead. You’ll receive practical, personalised guidance designed to help you manage challenging moments and build calmer responses over time.

TRAINING SUPPORT

Helping your dog feel calmer around others.

Lunging can happen for many reasons, including fear, frustration, excitement, uncertainty or feeling unable to move away. The behaviour may look similar on the surface, but the support each dog needs can be very different.

Training begins by looking at your dog’s behaviour, environment and individual triggers. From there, you’ll learn how to create more space, respond earlier and help your dog feel safer when distractions appear.

Rather than forcing your dog into overwhelming situations, we work at a pace they can manage. This helps develop useful skills while supporting their wellbeing and strengthening the connection between you.

Reactive Dog Training Session

Personalised support for dogs who lunge, pull or react towards dogs, people or distractions while on lead.

Behaviour assessment
Trigger identification
Practical lead-handling guidance
Personalised training plan
Management strategies
Ongoing training recommendations

WHY DOGAHOLICS WORKS

Practical help for real-life situations.

Training is designed around your dog, your lifestyle and the situations you encounter together. You’ll receive clear, realistic strategies that can be practised during everyday walks without placing unnecessary pressure on you or your dog.

THE OUTCOME

Enjoy calmer, more confident walks together.

When your dog lunges on lead, even a short walk can feel unpredictable or exhausting. You may find yourself avoiding particular routes, crossing the road frequently or feeling unsure about how to respond.

With personalised support, you can learn to recognise your dog’s early signals, create space before they become overwhelmed and guide them through challenging situations more confidently.

Your dog can also develop skills that help them stay calmer and respond differently when triggers appear. Progress looks different for every dog, but small changes can make walks feel safer and more manageable.

The goal is not to force your dog to interact with everyone they see. It is to help you and your dog move through everyday environments with greater understanding, confidence and trust.

our process

Why Dogaholics training works.

Dogaholics identifies the underlying cause.

Most unwanted behaviours are symptoms, not the problem itself. Barking, pulling, lunging, anxiety and reactivity often stem from underlying emotions, learning experiences and unmet needs. We take the time to understand what is driving your dog’s behaviour so we can address the cause, not just manage the symptoms.

Dogaholics science based training.

Using evidence-based behavioural science and positive kind reinforcement methods, we create a personalised training plan for your dog. By building new skills, confidence and emotional resilience, we help your dog learn better ways to respond to the world around them.

Happy and confident  lasting outcomes.

When the underlying cause is understood and the right skills are developed, meaningful change becomes possible. The result is a calmer, more confident dog, clearer communication, a stronger relationship and practical behaviours that support a happier life together.

locations

Proudly serving Newcastle & Lake Macquarie

Dogaholics provides personalised dog and cat training services throughout Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and surrounding suburbs, helping local families create calmer and more enjoyable lives with their pets.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog lunge while on lead?

Dogs may lunge because they feel frightened, frustrated, excited, uncertain or unable to move away. A behaviour assessment can help identify the likely triggers and determine the most suitable support for your dog.

Is lunging the same as aggression?

Not necessarily. Lunging can appear intense, but it does not automatically mean a dog is aggressive. Understanding the context, body language and motivation behind the behaviour is essential before deciding how to address it.

Can reactive lead behaviour improve?

Many dogs can learn calmer and more manageable responses with appropriate training, thoughtful management and consistent support. Progress will depend on your dog’s individual needs, experiences and triggers.

Should I avoid other dogs during training?

Creating distance can be helpful while your dog is learning. This does not always mean avoiding other dogs completely. It means choosing situations where your dog can remain comfortable enough to respond and learn.

Will training stop my dog from lunging immediately?

Behaviour change usually takes time. Training focuses on understanding your dog’s triggers, preventing repeated overwhelm and building new skills gradually rather than relying on a quick fix.

What should I bring to the session?

Bring your dog’s usual walking equipment, suitable rewards and any relevant background information. You’ll be advised before your appointment if anything else is needed.

Feel more prepared when your dog reacts.

Get personalised guidance to understand your dog’s behaviour and make everyday walks feel more manageable.

Need help with lunging or reactive behaviour?

Dogaholics can help you understand your dog and build calmer, safer responses on everyday walks.

I can't thank Eve enough for helping me and my dog Stan. She addressed all of the issues Stan had (especially Barking at possums and recall)and gave me the confidence,that with the training I had done with Stan under Eve's instructions and the traing that i continue to give him, he will turn out a well balanced and happier dog.I highly recomend Eve at Dogaholics Dog Training and Behaviour Services.

Ian Sutcliffe

The setup was fantastic — each dog had its own separate space, and the dividers worked so well to help them stay calm without seeing each other. I also really appreciated the venue; my puppy loved having the chance to settle inside the class and then enjoy little breaks outside in the large green area. And of course, Eve was amazing — not only teaching us new techniques, but also sharing videos and resources that were incredibly helpful.

Sabrina Syed

I recently used Eve for three training sessions for my dog, Willow. It's clear that Eve is very passionate about her work, taking time to explain theory and to provide practical demonstration of techniques to use. With practise at home, I've seen great success with Willow. Eve is a fantastic trainer and teacher and I would highly recommend her services.

Andrae Foenander

Highly recommend Eve. She helped us with our reactive/anxious X Staffy who had just been recently attacked by another dog. Eve was kind and non judgmental during the consult. The space where she does the consult is also very dog specific --both an inside and outside area. We noticed positive progress in our dog within days of following her advice.

gail bonnor

We reached out to Eve for a behaviour consultation after our dog started showing some concerning behaviours. The sessions were very informative and useful - not just for our dog but for us too. Eve took the time to explain why the behaviour was happening and gave us clear, practical strategies to support him. We also realise some of our actions were making things worse for our poor boy! We are really grateful and would highly recommend Dogaholics to anyone needing a knowledgeable and compassionate trainer and behaviourist!

Sammy

Eve was very knowledgeable and offered fantastic advice. I have a very nervous rescue dog that usually takes a long time to settle in new places or around strangers but Eve made her feel so comfortable within our first visit, so quickly you would have thought it was her second home. Definitely recommend Dogaholics.

Amber

I would personally recommend Dogaholics Behaviour Assessor Eve I give her 5 stars for her help. To anyone that has a declared dangerous dog. My dog Buddy was a declared dangerous dog for 3 years but with the help of Eves Assessment he is now a free man and had his Dangerous Dog Declaration revoked thank you so much Eve for your help i greatly appreciate it so does Buddy he is a much happier dog now he is free and not stuck in a cage .😊

joanne mirabito

Puppy school with Eve from Dogaholics was great, we're first time dog owners and learnt lots and feel we have the knowledge to keep our puppy training going well.

Simon Bush

Had a great time with Eve and the puppy school. Lots of fun and we learnt heaps. Would recommend to anyone with a puppy

Luke Aiello

LEAD REACTIVITY

Does your dog lunge at other dogs, people or distractions while on lead?

5000+

24+

4.8 ★★★★★

Newcastle