From Reactive to Regulated: Building Emotional Resilience in Dogs
-…so every walk can feel FUN…
Raise the emotionally resilient adventure dog you've always dreamed of. The one who greets the world with confidence. The one who feels safe and trusts you.
Because your dog isn’t “bad” -
Your dog is likely overwhelmed. Dysregulated. Struggling to cope.
And you? You’re not failing - you just need a little more perspective and practical tools.
I want to tell you about Serge…my sweet, anxious boy who had 4 different homes before he landed with me at 7 months old. Skin and bone and scared of everything.
Serge came to me as an adolescent and a bit “damaged”. He was not an easy dog.
He barked at shadows. Reacted to every trigger.
Other dogs, a skateboard, a new person - any could flip his nervous system into chaos.
Underneath all this he was handsome, sensitive and smart. But he was always on edge and obviously suffering trying to just get through the day.
I didn’t “fix” him. But helped him feel safe enough so his nervous system had a secure place to find some regulation. We co-regulated, every single day.
He developed into a solid, brave boy who became my go-anywhere, adventure-ready, emotionally resilient partner. He lived a happy and full life without needing to bark at every fallen leaf (!).
✺
What if your dog could handle the world with calm curiosity?
Grow your dog’s ability to recover from stress - faster.
Become your dog’s emotional anchor
Build real-world confidence through connection and co-regulation.
Watch your sensitive dog become your favourite adventure buddy.
Better understand what is going on from your dog’s point of view.
✺
This mini course is for you if…
You’ve got a reactive, sensitive, or easily overwhelmed dog.
You want to take them everywhere, but don’t want to push past their comfort zone.
You value science, but also trust your intuition.
You crave partnership over dominance, and co-regulation over control.
You believe in emotional health - for you and your dog.
What’s inside…
Module 1: Understanding Your Dog’s Nervous System
This is where the shift begins - awareness. You’ll learn:
What reactivity actually is (hint: it’s not a behaviour problem).
How the Autonomic Nervous System works - fight/flight vs. rest/digest
How stress builds in the body and mind (trigger stacking, overarousal, and the “volcano” effect.
Early warning signs: Body language that says “I’m not okay”.
Why nervous system regulation makes your dog more trainable, adaptable, and confident.
👉 By the end of the module, you’ll understand your dog’s reactions - and respond with compassion and clarity.
Module 2: Finding Co-Regulation With Your Dog
This is the heart of the course: The “We”. Because your dog cannot regulate alone - they your regulated nervous system too.
You’ll learn:
What co-regulation is - and why it’s the foundation of a strong bond.
The Relaxation Protocol: A powerful practice for teaching your dog to settle with you, not just because of you.
How to train with clarity so your dog knows what’s expected - no guesswork, no confusion.
How your own posture, breathing, voice, and vibe impact your dog’s state.
Why “Yes” markers and consistent release cues matter so much more than praise alone.
👉This is where the magic happens: You become your dog’s emotional anchor.
Module 3: Helping Your Dog Self-Regulate
Now we help your dog grow their own resilience.
So they can handle life’s curveballs - without spiraling.
You’ll learn:
What self-regulation looks like (and how it’s different from obedience).
How to grow impulse control, frustration tolerance, and emotional flexibility.
What really supports regulation: food, sleep, routine, downtime and enrichment.
How to create a healthy home vibe (because your energy IS contagious).
Practical tools: impulse control games, mat work, and “good dog moments” you can reinforce without prompts.
👉 This is the long-term shift: a dog who chooses calm, even when life gets loud.
-
Yes - and what a gift to start young. Puppies are learning how to process the world, and this course gives you the tools to raise a well-regulated dog from the beginning. You’ll learn how to co-regulate, teach impulse control gently, and prevent patterns of reactivity before they get established.
-
This is a self paced course that you can move through it in a weekend - or take it one small practice at a time. There’s no rush.
-
Definitely. Rescue dogs take approximately 3 months to settle in to a new home and “unpack their bags” before you get to know them properly. In this mini course you will learn about your dog’s nervous system and practical skills to help them stay in a parasympathetic or “rest and digest” state.
-
Due to the instant access and short nature of the digital course, no refunds are offered.
Raise the emotionally resilient adventure dog you've always dreamed of. The one who greets the world with confidence. The one who feels safe and trusts you.
FAQ
Discover the Missing (Training) Piece!
Raise the emotionally resilient adventure dog you've always dreamed of. The one who greets the world with confidence. The one who feels safe and trusts you.
“Thank you again for all your help - you certainly have a gift with animals and are pretty good at training humans as well.”
You don’t have to “fix” your dog. You just need a better map. Let’s grow emotional resilience in your dog so they can feel all the feelings, and make good choices anyway.
Andrea is a dog behaviour expert, lifelong nature lover, and is always learning.
With a background in psychology (BSc.UVIC) and over 15 years working with dogs, Andrea blends science, intuition, and nature-rooted wisdom to help folks raise emotionally healthy dogs and great dog-human partnerships.
She’s trained in behaviour theory, animal communication, and more - but her favourite credential is walking beside humans and dogs as they grow together.
When’s she’s not teaching or training, you’ll find her gardening - coffee in hand, sitting with her cats, or hiking with her human and dog family in the forest.