Barking and lunging on leash. Losing it at the window every time a dog walks by. Stiffening up the second another dog gets close. If walks have turned into something you dread, you’re not alone. Reactivity is one of the most common things we see, and when it’s handled the right way, it’s one of the most fixable.
Reactive dog rehab is focused, one-on-one behavior work for dogs that are reactive, fearful, or aggressive toward other dogs or animals. We work out of our facility in Glastonbury, CT, and in homes across Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
Is This Your Dog?
- Barks, lunges, or pulls toward other dogs on leash
- Goes off at the window, the fence, or from the car
- Freezes, hides, or shuts down around new dogs or animals
- Growls, snaps, or has a bite history with other dogs or animals
- You’ve changed your walk times or routes just to avoid other dogs
How We Work
A reactive dog isn’t a bad dog or a stubborn dog. It’s an overwhelmed dog that has learned making a scene makes the scary thing go away. So we don’t throw them into the deep end and hope it sticks. That usually makes it worse.
We build it in layers: a solid obedience foundation so your dog has something to do besides react, disengagement training so they can see a trigger and turn away, and counterconditioning and desensitization to change how they feel about their specific triggers. Always at your dog’s pace. And you learn the same skills, because you’re the one on the other end of the leash every day.
How It Starts: The In-Home Consult
Every rehab case starts with a consult in your home. We sit down with the whole family, watch your dog in their own space, and figure out what’s really driving the behavior. You leave with homework and honest feedback, and your program gets built around what we actually saw.
- $500 in Connecticut / $600 out of state
- Non-refundable, but fully credited toward any training program if you enroll within 6 months
4 Week Rehab Board & Train — $6,200
Requires an in-home consult first. For dog or animal reactivity and aggression.
Our most intensive program, combining a full obedience foundation with focused behavior work: disengagement training, counterconditioning, and desensitization to your dog’s specific triggers, always at their pace. This is for families ready to commit to real, lasting improvement, not a magic fix. Includes twice-weekly report cards, twice-weekly video tutorials built from your dog’s own lessons, four handover lessons in your home, and a full starter kit. The $500 consult fee comes off this price.
Reactive In-Home Program — $2,500 CT / $3,000 Out of State
For families who want to do the work at home, or dogs who do better without an overnight stay. We work one-on-one in your home and neighborhood, on your actual walks, around the triggers your dog actually runs into. Out-of-state sessions run biweekly with travel built into the price.
What We Don’t Take On
If your dog’s aggression is aimed at people, or your dog’s needs are beyond what we handle directly, we’ll tell you that upfront and refer you to a trusted specialist. We’d rather point you to the right help than take a booking that won’t work.
What You Can Do Before Your Consult
- Add distance. The second your dog starts staring or stiffening, cross the street or turn around. Every blowup they rehearse makes the next one easier.
- Don’t punish the growl. It’s your dog’s warning system. Shut it down and you can end up with a dog that bites without warning. Here’s why.
- Skip the dog park and on-leash greetings for now. They pile on the exact stress you’re trying to bring down. More on that here.
- Keep notes. What set your dog off, how close it was, and how long it took them to settle. That helps us a ton at the consult.
Read More
- Why Is My Dog Reactive? The Real Reasons Behind the Barking and Lunging
- Socializing a Reactive Dog: Why ‘Just Expose Them More’ Usually Backfires
- When Your Dog Growls, Don’t Shut Them Up
Booking & Policies
For the 4 week rehab board & train, a 50% deposit at booking holds your spot, with the balance due at drop-off. Programs are fully refundable if training hasn’t started yet; after that, board & train cancellations need one week’s notice or a $250 fee. Second and each additional dog: 10% off.
Ready to Get Your Walks Back?
Call or text 860-579-6441 or email Enrollment@EliteTrainingCenters.Net to book your consult.