Owning a reactive dog isn’t just a challenge—it can feel like a daily emotional rollercoaster. At CBRC, we work with reactive dogs and their owners every single day, and we know first-hand how tough, exhausting, and lonely the journey can sometimes feel. If you’re reading this and nodding along, please know: you are absolutely not alone, and we genuinely understand what you’re going through.
The Reality of Life with a Reactive Dog
Living with a dog who barks, lunges, or panics at the sight of other dogs, people, or even new environments can turn simple activities—like going for a walk—into a source of stress. There’s the constant worry about triggers, the frustration of setbacks, and sometimes, the judgment or lack of understanding from others.
Every walk is planned like a military operation.
You worry about being “that owner” in the park.
You’ve tried advice that didn’t work—and felt the sting of failure.
You’ve wondered if it’s your fault, or if you’re doing enough.
We get it, because we’ve supported hundreds of owners through exactly these challenges.
Why We Understand—And Never Judge
At CBRC, we specialise in the tough cases—dogs who are anxious, reactive, or have a history of trauma. Our work is about more than just training the dog; it’s about supporting you, the owner, with real empathy and practical advice.
We know reactivity isn’t a sign of a “bad” dog or a “bad” owner. It’s often rooted in fear, genetics, or past experiences.
We never judge, and we never give up. Every dog and owner is unique, and every journey is valid.
We listen. Sometimes, what you need most is someone who truly hears your story and understands the emotional side of living with a reactive dog.
Our Approach: Support for Both Ends of the Lead
We believe in walking alongside you, not just telling you what to do. Our programmes focus on:
Building your confidence as much as your dog’s
Teaching practical management skills for real-life scenarios
Providing a safe, judgment-free space to share your struggles and celebrate your wins
Offering ongoing support—because progress isn’t always linear
You’re Not Alone—And There Is Hope
If you’re feeling isolated or overwhelmed, please know that there are people who understand and care. With the right guidance, patience, and support, even the most reactive dogs can make meaningful progress—and so can their owners.
In summary:
At CBRC, we see you, we understand you, and we’re here to help—without judgment, and with a deep respect for the journey you’re on with your dog.
“Joy is amazing and would highly recommend CBRC if you are having trouble with your dog. We were at a last resort for Luna and didn’t know where to turn. We came across Joy and it’s changed not just ours but Lunas life. Since coming home from her rehabilitation stay she is so much more confident, she is still reactive but the constant support and advise from Joy helps us continue what she worked on whilst Luna was with them and also taught us tools we needed to help Luna progress. We have noticed such a difference in Lunas confidence with the world. baby steps and we have a long road ahead but because of Joy we are going in the right direction. so grateful to of found Joy and will 100% be using CBRC again in the future. thank you so much!” Laura Pike.
“We have recently had to put our girl in the capable hands of joy and her team. Our winnie is reactive aggressive and has a significant bite history and we tried behaviourists and medication but still were not winning. Before Christmas we had an incident that we had to make the choice between euthanasia or rehab. We chose rehab and our journey with joy began. Having put winnie with joy we started the task of learning and retraining our other dogs on how to behave. Resetting rules we hadn’t realised we had lost. During winnies stay we had remote sessions and we began to understand the owners we had become and how to improve in order to take back control. I was a bit of a wreck but joy gave me a no nonsense reality check and a path which will change how we interact with our dogs for the better!!!! Winnie has been home for 3 weeks and we have had some teething issues ( mainly me lol.. sometimes also winnie!) but we are learning – we are recognising the triggers better and winnie is becoming more relaxed as a result. We still sometimes defer to past behaviour but joy has relentlessly been available during these times when we needed her. She is also allowing us to continue to learn with her guidance. Winnie for sure will always be a challenge but we are with joys help and guidance forging a path forward towards a safer environment for us all. I could not recommend her enough … Karen.”
“After an incident and years of trying to manage Murphy’s reactivity to strangers and dogs we felt our only option was to check Murphy in for rehab. I had been following CBRC for many years so knew about all the good work they did. Murphy was away from us for 7 weeks which was really tough but it was one of the best things we could have done for him. It acted as a reset for him and us and things are so much better now. I’m no longer filled with dread on our walks waiting for him to react. Murphy and I now have the skills to deal with most situations without causing him stress. He’ll never like strangers but we manage it much better than before and he’s a much happier boy! We love that we can check Murphy in for boarding when we go on holiday too!… Murphy Boston.”
If you need help with your dogs issues or require specialist boarding please do not hesitate to get in touch by calling us on: via the link here: CBRC
