Most dog walkers screen out reactive dogs in their booking forms. I understand why — pack walks make it impossible, and many walkers haven't been trained to read warning signs before they become incidents. But the dogs who get screened out are often the ones who need help the most. Their owners can't always walk them in the mornings. They lose their jobs. They miss vacations. The dog stays home all day.

I'm trained for this. I'm Fear Free Certified, which is the global standard for handling pets in low-stress, low-fear ways. I've worked at Greenhill Humane Society with dogs who came in shut down, fearful, or under-socialized. And I walk solo — one dog, one household, one walker — so there's never a pack to manage.

What this looks like in practice

The meet-and-greet

Free, in your home. We sit on the floor and let your dog have however long they need. I want to know:

What sets them off — other dogs? men in hats? trucks? skateboards?
Their warning signs — what does "I'm getting overwhelmed" look like for your specific dog?
Their walking gear — front-clip harness, head halter, gentle leader, slip lead?
What works for you and them — bait pouch with high-value treats? a "find it" cue? a "watch me"?

The walks themselves

I walk on your terms. Quiet streets, off-hours, the side gate instead of the front door — whatever lets your dog succeed. I cross streets early. I use parked cars as visual barriers. I redirect with treats before reactivity, not after. I keep walks shorter and more successful, rather than longer and harder.

I don't expose dogs to triggers as a "training opportunity." That's not my role. I keep them under threshold, on routes that work for them, and let your trainer (if you have one) handle the desensitization work.

The reports

I tell you what actually happened. "We had to turn around once when a delivery truck pulled up — she did great, ate the treat, walked away." Not just a thumbs-up emoji. You'll know if your dog had a hard day, and we can adjust the next walk.

For house sitting with a reactive dog

This is where I think I add the most value. Reactive dogs often do worse with kennels and pet hotels — strange dogs, strange smells, no decompression space. House sitting keeps them at home, on their routine, with a person they know. I sleep there. We do their walks the way you do them. We don't have visitors over. We keep the house calm.

Pricing

Same as my standard rates — no upcharge for reactive dogs.

Solo walk: $29
Drop-in visit: $35
House sit: $156/night

What I won't take on

I'm honest about my limits. I'm a pet care professional, not a behavior consultant. If your dog has:

An active bite history with humans
Severe handler aggression
Resource-guarding directed at handlers
Behavior that's escalating quickly without a behavior plan in place

...let's talk on the phone first. I may refer you to a Fear Free or IAABC-certified behavior consultant in Eugene before we start regular care, so we have a foundation to work from. I want to be helpful, and that sometimes means being clear about who's right for the job.

If you're a trainer or vet

If you work with reactive dogs in Lane County and have a client who needs reliable Fear Free walks while you're doing the behavior work, I'd love to be on your referral list. Call me — let's coordinate.

For the dogs most walkers won't take.