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In this powerful episode of The Yappy Hour, Nathan Dunleavy speaks with world-renowned dog trainer Victoria Stilwell about reactive dogs, the emotional reality of living with reactivity, and her compassionate Reactivity Zones Approach, a force-free framework built around safety, trust, choice and real-life support for dogs and their guardians.
Listen to the Victoria Stilwell podcast episode
What you’ll learn in this episode:
✅ What dog guardians often misunderstand about reactivity and why reactive behaviour is not disobedience
✅ Why dog reactivity can feel so emotional, isolating and shame-filled for guardians
✅ What Victoria Stilwell’s Reactivity Zones Approach is and how it differs from traditional desensitisation and counter conditioning
✅ The difference between the comfort zone, tolerance zone and discomfort zone in reactive dogs
✅ How to recognise subtle body language signs that your dog is struggling before barking and lunging begins
✅ Why choice, agency and predictability matter so much for dogs’ emotional wellbeing
✅ How emergency U-turns, body blocking, stationing and escape skills can help in real-life situations
✅ Why progress with reactive dogs is rarely linear and how to track it more compassionately
✅ What resilience really looks like in a reactive dog beyond obedience
✅ How guardians can stay kind to themselves while supporting a dog through behavioural challenges
Key takeaways for living with a reactive dog:
- Reactivity is not a character flaw in the dog, it is a response to stress, discomfort, fear, frustration or environmental conflict.
- Guardians are not failing when their dog reacts; they need support, practical tools and compassionate guidance.
- Victoria’s Reactivity Zones Approach focuses on working with the dog’s emotional state, not simply suppressing visible behaviour.
- The three zones – comfort, tolerance and discomfort – help guardians better understand what their dog is experiencing.
- Real-life dog training needs to work around prams, bikes, off-lead dogs, busy streets and everyday unpredictability.
- Choice and agency can help dogs feel safer, more confident and more able to cope.
- Management is not failure; it is a humane and essential part of helping reactive dogs.
- Progress can be messy, emotional and non-linear, but small wins matter.
- Force-free training is about trust, safety and communication, not control.
- Supporting a reactive dog is hard, and guardians deserve compassion, too.
Thanks for tuning in! Let’s celebrate the joy and challenges of dog parenting together, because we’re all here for the dogs.
Need help with a reactive dog near you?
If you’re living with a reactive dog, you’re not alone.
Thousands of dog guardians are navigating the same challenges — and the right support can make a huge difference.
Yappily helps you find ethical, qualified dog trainers and behaviourists who use force-free methods.
👉 Find a qualified dog behaviourist near you
Watch the Victoria Stilwell podcast episode on YouTube
Connect with Victoria Stilwell
The Victoria Stilwell Academy website
Connect with Nathan and Yappily
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What is a reactive dog?
A reactive dog is a dog that responds strongly to certain triggers in their environment, such as other dogs, people, bikes or noises. Reactive behaviour can include barking, lunging, staring, pulling or heightened vigilance.
Reactivity is usually linked to fear, frustration, stress or overwhelm rather than disobedience.
What causes dog reactivity?
Dog reactivity can be caused by fear, frustration, anxiety, lack of confidence, previous negative experiences or difficulty coping with busy environments. Understanding the underlying emotion behind the behaviour is key to helping reactive dogs
Is reactivity the same as aggression in dogs?
No. Reactivity and aggression are different. Reactive behaviour is often an emotional response to stress or fear, while aggression involves behaviour intended to threaten or cause harm. Many reactive dogs are actually trying to create distance from something that worries them.
What is the Reactivity Zones Approach in dog training?
The Reactivity Zones Approach, developed by Victoria Stilwell, is a force-free framework that helps guardians understand their dog’s emotional state using three zones: comfort, tolerance and discomfort. It focuses on safety, trust, choice and real-life support rather than pushing dogs through exposure.
What are the comfort, tolerance and discomfort zones?
The comfort zone is where a dog feels safe and relaxed. The tolerance zone is where the dog notices a trigger but is still coping. The discomfort zone is where the dog becomes overwhelmed, highly focused on the trigger and may bark, lunge or react.
How can I help my reactive dog on walks?
Helping a reactive dog on walks often involves increasing distance from triggers, choosing quieter routes, learning to read your dog’s body language, and using management skills such as emergency U-turns, body blocking or repositioning to keep your dog feeling safe.
Working with a qualified behaviourist can also make a big difference for dogs struggling with reactivity.
Can force-free training help reactive dogs?
Yes. Force-free dog training focuses on reducing fear, stress and overwhelm while helping dogs learn safer ways to cope with triggers. This approach prioritises emotional wellbeing, trust and communication between dogs and guardians.
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