Choosing a trainer
What if my dog is reactive to other dogs at board and train?
The worry arrives as a picture: your dog, who loses it at the sight of another dog across the street, left somewhere other dogs are. It is a reasonable thing to picture, and it deserves a direct answer. Here is what we have published about reactive dogs in our programs, what we ask you to disclose at the consultation, and why the fullest version of your dog's story is what keeps everyone safe.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
One-on-one by design
Reactive dogs are assessed first and never put in a class.
Every program here is one-on-one; there are no group classes, so your dog is not being enrolled in a room of strangers to see what happens. Behaviour Rehab is the program built for the barkers and lungers: a five to six week board and train for anxiety, reactivity and aggression, customized after a full assessment and priced within $4,850 to $5,760 plus GST. Reactivity work at your dog's pace and structured socialization are both on its published list of work.
The assessment decides whether Behaviour Rehab is the right program, what the plan for your dog contains, and the price within that range. It is also where structured socialization is planned for your particular dog, rather than by a rule on a web page. Housing arrangements during a stay are not published; what is published is clean, comfortable accommodations with fresh water, daily exercise, enrichment and individual care. If distance from other dogs matters to you, ask that question at the consultation.
- No group classes, ever
- Built for barkers and lungers
- Plan written after full assessment
- Housing left to the consultation
Honesty is safety
Your honesty is the first safety mechanism.
Owners soften the story: he is just excited, she only did it once, the other dog started it. Each may be true, and each hides the detail that matters most. Has your dog ever made contact with another dog, where, how hard, and what happened in the seconds before? Tell us about the fence line, the leash, the park incident you still feel bad about. Dogs with bite histories are accepted into Behaviour Rehab after a full assessment, so honesty costs you nothing.
Honesty also sets the safety plan for the time between now and the start date. Until a professional has met your dog, keep distance and keep it boring: cross the street, skip the off-leash park, and do not arrange a meet-and-greet to test how your dog does. Do not punish growling; a growl is the warning you want to keep. If the reactivity is new, or your dog seems sore, see your vet first, because pain can look like temper.
The programs
Programs and prices
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Will my reactive dog be around other dogs at board and train?
Everything is one-on-one and there are no group classes, so your dog is not put in a class with other dogs. Structured socialization is on Behaviour Rehab's published list of work, done at your dog's pace. Housing between sessions is not published, so ask at the consultation.
Should I tell the trainer my dog has bitten another dog?
Yes, with every detail: where, how hard, what led up to it. Dogs with bite histories are accepted into Behaviour Rehab after a full assessment, so disclosure does not close the door; it shapes the plan and keeps everyone safe.
Does a dog-reactive dog have to do Behaviour Rehab, or can a shorter program work?
That is decided at the consultation, not from a description. Behaviour Rehab is built for reactivity and aggression after a full assessment, and where a smaller program would genuinely cover what your dog needs, that is the one we suggest.
Is it safe to send a dog-aggressive dog to board and train?
Safety rests on two things: a full assessment before any plan, and complete honesty from you about what your dog has done. Until then, manage with distance and never test your dog on another dog to see what happens.
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Tell us the whole story
Bring every incident, including the one you would rather not mention. Book a consultation and we will plan around the real dog.
From real owners
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