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Problem Solving Unleashed: Practical tools to make training effective and approachable, while embracing curiosity, connection, and the beautifully chaotic realities of growth—for both dogs and their humans. |
This episode started with a simple question from my Uber driver:
"What’s your take on dog parks?"
I told him they’re great—if your dog loves mosh pits.
Then, as the conversation unfolded, he said a phrase I have heard over and over again:
"My dog is really sweet unless... you are a small animal in the yard."
I knew exactly what he meant. Sweet doesn’t cancel out instincts, and some dogs shift gears faster than people expect. There’s no hesitation, no warm-up—just immediate action. Predatory sequence is the technical term for the process—from spotting something to biting it. It’s not aggression; it’s a structured behavioral pattern that follows a predictable chain of events.
Predatory Sequence
Not every dog thrives in a social free-for-all. Some love the unpredictability of a dog park, while others prefer structure and predictability. That’s where dog selectivity comes in—not every dog wants or needs to engage with every other dog, and that’s okay.
The Uber driver’s pit/heeler mix is solid most of the time, but when a resource or a small animal is involved, her instincts take over. There’s no hesitation, no warm-up—just immediate action. That’s predatory sequence at play, the natural pattern of hunting behaviors.
What separates good play from escalation is the presence of resets—shake-offs, sneezes, small pauses. Without those, instinct runs uninterrupted, and things can get serious fast.
Aggression isn’t inherently bad—it’s simply a functional behavior that, in some dogs, is more decisive and intense than in others. Some dogs posture and bluff before engaging; others skip the warnings and go straight to action. Female dogs, in particular, tend to escalate faster and cause more damage because their aggression is often more efficient than performative.
That’s why understanding a dog’s natural tendencies matters. Some dogs will always need structure over free-for-all social settings, not because they’re bad, but because their instincts require management that sets them up for success.
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Social Styles
People don’t always get to pick their social environments. Unlike dogs, who can often be managed in ways that minimize conflict, humans have to function in spaces that don’t always match their natural style. Work, school, family gatherings—these environments demand a level of social tolerance, even when they feel draining or unnatural.
Some people thrive in fast-paced, high-energy crowds, jumping into conversations and feeding off the buzz. Others need space, time to process, and interactions that feel intentional rather than chaotic. But success often requires adapting to environments that aren’t ideal—especially in professional settings.
That’s where setup comes in. Just like a dog that needs structure to avoid social misalignment, humans benefit from strategies that help them function in spaces they wouldn’t naturally choose. Some manage it with routines, downtime between high-demand interactions, or small adjustments that let them maintain balance in overwhelming situations. Without those supports, tolerance turns into burnout.
Social misalignment creates friction, but paying attention to how we work best makes it manageable. The goal isn’t forcing comfort where it doesn’t exist—it’s building systems that allow for success, even when the environment isn’t ideal.
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Muzzles
The Uber driver asked if muzzles help with dog park interactions. I told him I love muzzles—they’re great for safety and management in the right contexts. But I rarely recommend them for dog parks, and I don’t use them for my current personal dogs or in my home systems.
For my dogs, I rely on a rotation system rather than muzzles. It lets me control space, intensity, and interactions before they escalate, rather than managing the aftermath. The way my home runs—with kids moving unpredictably through shared spaces—makes muzzles a risk I’d rather not add to the mix.
I don’t dwell on worst-case scenarios—I anticipate them. Experience has carved its lessons deep, and when you’ve seen what dogs are capable of—when you’ve witnessed the damage, even death—you stop treating risk as a hypothetical. It’s not paranoia; it’s pattern recognition. Tension has a rhythm. Escalation has a feel. I see it before it happens, adjust before it’s needed, and set up systems that prevent chaos instead of reacting to it. It’s not fear—it’s strategy.
With clients, the approach can be different. Teaching muzzle tolerance outside of high-pressure situations and then integrating it back into structured interactions can be incredibly useful. In those cases, muzzles aren’t just a reactionary tool—they’re part of a broader management strategy that gives both the handler and the dog more control.
The best tool isn’t just the safest one—it’s the one that actually creates stability instead of just managing chaos.
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Management tools, setups, training—none of it works if it doesn’t fit your reality. Some dogs need structure over social free-for-alls. Some need clear boundaries before tension turns into a problem. And some just need to be kept out of situations where biting starts to seem like a reasonable conflict resolution strategy.
Dog parks work—if your dog thrives in a mosh pit. But if they’re more of a library dweller, tossing them into a chaotic free-for-all won’t magically turn them into a social butterfly. That’s like expecting an introvert to love karaoke just because the mic is handed to them.
The goal isn’t forcing comfort—it’s setting things up so success actually happens.
So what’s your take on dog parks?
Let’s explore what’s possible, together—with curiosity, compassion, and a good dose of humor. |
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Rene Smith CCBC-KA
Rene Smith, a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant (CCBC-KA) with nearly a decade of experience working with aggressive dogs, brings a unique perspective to understanding behavior at both ends of the leash.
Find out more about working with me [here]
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