Dog Reactivity Decoded by Michael Ellis

What Will You Learn?

Dog Reactivity Decoded takes you through the complete process of understanding and working with reactive behavior, from foundation to real-world application.

Each concept builds on the one before it. Each lesson prepares you for the next. By the end, you won’t simply know more techniques — you’ll understand how to think through reactivity the way Michael Ellis does.

Understanding Reactivity. Learn what reactivity is (and isn’t), where it comes from, and why accurate diagnosis is the foundation of every successful training plan.

Reading Behavior. Recognize the body language, emotional states, and patterns that reveal what’s really happening before your dog ever reacts.

Management Before Training. Discover why management isn’t avoiding the problem — it’s often the first step toward solving it.

Building the Right Foundation. Develop motivation, engagement, reward systems, and prerequisite skills so you’re never testing a dog that isn’t ready.

Verbal Redirection & Reinforcement. Learn Michael’s systematic approach to redirecting attention and creating better decision-making under increasing difficulty.

Layering Skills the Right Way. See how leash handling, toys, movement, and rewards are carefully layered to create lasting understanding rather than temporary compliance.

From Controlled to Real World. Progress from structured setups into increasingly challenging real-world situations, including how to handle reactions, mistakes, and recovery.

Whether you’re a dog owner whose walks have become stressful or a professional trainer who wants a repeatable framework (and the chance to see Michael’s real-time decision-making), this course gives you both the structure and the judgment.

This is not a collection of random tips, not a promise to erase every reactive behavior from every dog, and not a one-correction-fixes-it system. The e-collar is one later, optional layer — never the premise of the course.

The promise is not magic. It is clarity. A framework for understanding what you’re seeing, knowing what your dog needs next, and seeing how every piece fits together from the first foundation to the real-world street.

What Exactly Do You Get?

Part 1: Understanding Reactivity

• Personal Introduction
• Why We Chose This Topic
• Course Introduction
• Appendix Intro
• Reactivity and Internal Reinforcement with Snug Sessions
• Equipment Requirements
• What Is Reactivity, and What It’s Not
• How It Starts: The Common Causes of Reactivity
• Common Handler Error: Tight Leash Triggering Reactions
• Socialization Concerns
• How Reactivity Gets Reinforced, or How Related Behaviors Get Reinforced
• Diagnosing the Problem
• Body Language Signals for Defensive and Predatory Behaviour
• Management: The Tough Part
• Motivation (The Often Overlooked Component of Success)
• The Behaviors We Will Use in Combating Reactivity
• Prerequisite Skills and Tools Before Training
• Discussion of Introducing Additional Tools

Part 2: Reward Development & Verbal Redirection

• Introduction to Reward Development and Verbal Redirection with Betty
• Session 1: Reward Development and Verbal Redirection with Betty
• Reward Development and Verbal Redirection with Betty Recap
• Introduction to Betty Session 2: Verbal Redirect with Focus Away from Handler
• Betty Session 2: Verbal Redirect with Focus Away from Handler
• Reward Development with Dolly
• Building Moving Rewards with Puppies
• Introduction to Reward Development with Timer
• Reward Development with Timer
• Coaching Session: Beginning Verbal Redirection with Stark
• Introduction to Verbal Redirect Practice with Ollie
• Verbal Redirect Practice with Ollie
• Introduction to Verbal Redirect Practice with Anya
• Verbal Redirect Practice with Anya
• Recap: Anya Session

Part 3: Physical Redirection and Communication

• Introduction to Layering the Leash Over Our Redirect Behaviour with Stuffed Dog
• Layering the Leash Over Our Redirect Behaviour with Stuffed Dog
• Introduction to Layering the Leash Over Our Redirect Behaviour with Ollie
• Layering the Leash Over Our Redirect Behaviour with Ollie
• Introduction to Toy Redirection with Hennessey
• Toy Redirection with Hennessey
• Recap: Toy Redirection with Hennessey
• Introduction to Toy Redirect Practice with Ollie
• Toy Redirect Practice with Ollie

Part 4: Practicing Around Non-Triggering Distractions

• Introduction to Practicing Redirection with Non-Triggering Distractions in New Locations
• Practicing Redirect Drills with Toys in New Locations with Hennessey
• Introduction to Pass-Bys with Non-Triggering Distractions
• Pass-Bys with Non-Triggering Distractions with Snug and Hennessey
• Introduction to Practicing Redirection with Non-Triggering Distractions in New Locations: Session 2
• Practicing Redirection with Non-Triggering Distractions in New Locations: Session 2
• Practicing Redirection with Non-Triggering Distractions in New Locations: Session 3 with Toys

Part 5: E-Collar Integration

• Introduction to Electronic Collar Work for Redirection
• E-Collar Conditioning Work for Redirection

Part 6: Tackling the Problems, Practicing Around Controlled Triggers

• Tackling the Problems, Practicing Around Controlled Triggers
• Introduction to Controlled Triggers
• Controlled Triggers with Anya
• Introduction to Stuffed Dog with Ollie
• Stuffed Dog with Ollie
• Confronting Controlled Triggers with Ollie
• Introduction to Confronting Controlled Triggers with Anya
• Confronting Controlled Triggers with Anya

Part 7: Increasing Difficulty

• Introduction to Working Around Dog Parks
• Puppy Engagement Session near Dog Park
• Ollie Engagement Session with Toy near Dog Park
• Hennessey Advanced Dog Park Work
• Introduction to Anya Dog Park as a Potential Trigger
• Anya Dog Park as a Potential Trigger

Part 8: Working Through Failure, How to Handle Mistakes

• Introduction to Confronting Triggers with Possible Failure/Reactions
• Confronting Triggers with Possible Failure/Reactions: Session 1 with Anya
• Confronting Triggers with Possible Failure/Reactions: Session 2 with Anya
• Confronting Triggers with Possible Failure/Reactions: Session 3 with Anya
• Confronting Triggers with Possible Failure/Reactions: Session 4 with Anya Coaching
• Recap: Anya Sessions

Part 9: Taking It to the Streets & Course Recap

• Taking It to the Streets
• Confronting Uncontrolled Triggers with Anya
• Course Recap and Key Takeaways