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Behavior Modification

Positive reinforcement behavior training for reactive dogs in Medford and throughout Southern Oregon.

  • Does your dog bark, growl, lunge, or become overly stressed around other dogs or humans?

  • Are you embarrassed by your dog's behavior?

  • Do you avoid walks or think of them as a nightmare?

It’s essential that you know you are NOT alone, and we can help.

Start Your Training Plan
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Reactive behavior is common and can make everyday life with your dog stressful. Barking, growling, lunging, freezing, or becoming overwhelmed around people or other dogs can all be signs that your dog is struggling.

One thing is clear. People and their dogs need humane solutions to help them learn to navigate these behaviors and to help their dogs better regulate their emotions.

Have you ever had a friend or family member tell you to stop worrying and not to stress about something? Did it help? Probably not. So when your dog is having a big reaction, telling them to stop isn’t helping them self-regulate.

If you want to learn how to help your dog, we can provide humane, fear-free solutions that will put you and your dog back on a better path. With time and connection, things can improve.

Let’s Talk Training
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What’s the WAG About?

★★★★★

Basically, Mariah is never allowed to leave us! We are busy professionals, but we still wanted to add a dog to our busy lives. We travel all the time and want a friendly dog that can do well in lots of busy environments. We not only got lucky with a great puppy but Mariah has taken care of all the puppy training and socialization. We can easily take our dog to a restaurant or our kid’s soccer games, and the dog is well-mannered and chilled out. Mariah helped give us the dog we knew we wanted but didn’t have time to train. But, again, she’s not allowed to leave us. We love her, and our dog is obsessed with her.

— Ginger’s Humans – Ashland, OR

★★★★★

Mariah did all our puppy training and is now helping us through our boxer’s teens (lord help us!). I thought we were done with training, but when Braxton turned 15 months, I thought I might have to re-home him. He was literally bouncing off the walls, barking at every little sound, and starting to cause issues with my neighbors. We called Mariah back out, and she quickly got us back on track. Thank goodness we now know what our Braxton needs, and I have my sanity back.

— Braxton’s Humans – Phoenix, OR

★★★★★

A friend referred me to Mariah. WOW! Mariah doesn’t just teach dogs; she’s a great teacher for humans. I knew I had a lot to learn since it had been 20+ years since my last puppy. Mariah came to our house every week with so many fun things for our little Billy to play and learn from. Mariah is so well organized and provided a written training plan that we used each week in our training sessions. She was also reachable between sessions when chewing became a huge issue. I felt like Mariah was with me through the whole puppy time.

— Billy’s Humans- Ashland, OR

★★★★★

We were feeling overwhelmed with our new puppy but you helped us learn how to develop management tools that immediately changed things for the better. We’re better able to meet our puppy’s needs and in turn we’re seeing much less T-Rex puppy monsters. We can’t thank you enough.

— Angela & Mike

★★★★★

Mariah is such a great trainer to work with! She is so patient and nice and has so many good ideas to help with our dog! I would recommend her to anyone!

— Gus’s Humans – Colorado

★★★★★

Thanks to you I don’t have to go running down my street yelling at my dog with him fully ignoring me. It’s been a game changer! Winston now waits at the door like a good boy. My knees, neighbors, dog, and I, all thank you.

— L&P

★★★★★

I’ve hired other trainers in the past but never felt like I learned anything helpful. This time, I did a lot of research when looking to hire a new trainer. I found Mariah on the Karen Pryor Academy website. What a difference an education makes! She’s the first trainer I’ve met who knows what she’s talking about, and it shows in the way she worked with me and my family and dogs. I highly recommend hiring Mariah for your training needs.

— Central Point, OR

★★★★★

If you just got a dog, you need to make one call: The Joy of Wagging. Just save yourself the headaches and start off on the right foot. You won’t be sorry. Call Mariah.

— Charlie’s Human – Jacksonville, OR

★★★★★

I not only learned the basics of training my dog, but after adopting from a rescue, I now feel truly bonded to my new dog. Mariah added so many fun team-building training games, which made the experience so rewarding for both of us. Thank you.

— Peanut’s Human – Ashland, OR

★★★★★

We adopted our pit mix from the local animal shelter. We were provided with Mariah’s information for training. After doing our best to manage his barking at every living thing outside the house (and sometimes not living things like sticks and leaves), we called The Joy of Wagging. We knew we needed help. Mariah helped us put together a management strategy and training plan that immediately helped improve Hank’s non-stop barking. We have a ways to go, but knowing we rescued a shelter dog who we now know how to train is all thanks to Mariah. I can’t recommend her enough.

— Hank’s Humans – Medford, OR

How It Works

Getting Started

We start every training plan with a free 20-minute discovery call, followed by a paid one-hour consultation.

Individualized Solutions

After choosing your training objective, you can select between private coaching sessions and day training sessions.

Let's Train!

Once you receive your customized training program you're ready to schedule your first training sessions!

Talk With a Trainer

Increase the value of your rewards.

Shop our selection of high value training treats and reward treats today.

FAQs

My dog barks and lunges at every dog and person he sees. How do I get him to stop?

Reactive behaviors, such as barking and lunging, can be stressful for you and your dog. These reactions are not signs of a "bad" or "aggressive" dog; they are ways your dog tries to express stress, fear, and discomfort and are meant to keep potential threats at a distance.

To help your dog, it's important to approach these behaviors with empathy and maintain a safe distance from triggers. Being too close reinforces unwanted behaviors. Working with a certified positive reinforcement trainer is crucial in learning the necessary skills, which I refer to as your reactive skill set. We teach you simple and effective strategies to help shift your dog’s focus away from the trigger, helping to build a trusting and understanding partnership. Then, we begin normalizing seeing people or dogs, which in turn continues to lower stress levels.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when you have a reactive dog?

  • Ignoring your dog has feelings. Managing your dog's reactivity requires care, empathy, and love. Understand that your dog cannot simply turn off feelings of anger, fear, or stress. It takes time, understanding, and solution-based education.
  • Never punish your dog for reactive behaviors, as it can increase anxiety and fear, worsening the behavior. The dog is doing their best with the skills you’ve taught them. Hiring a certified positive reinforcement trainer to develop a customized plan is crucial.
  • Avoid forcing socialization; if your dog is uncomfortable around people or dogs, respect their feelings. Consider exposing them without direct contact and maintaining distance until they develop confidence and trust.
  • Ignoring the problem is not an option. Rehearsing unwanted behavior deepens the pattern, and reactivity can escalate dangerously. Do not assume the dog will outgrow it; it likely worsens if untreated. Patience and understanding are essential, as improvement takes time.
  • Ignoring dog body language can lead to serious issues. Educate yourself on canine signals to ensure your dog feels safe and secure, and learn to advocate for their needs. Remember, behavior has clues in body language; we need to listen with our eyes.

Why is my dog so reactive? As a puppy, she was fine.

There can be so many reasons for reactive behaviors. Understanding the dog's history and any trauma can help, but often, this isn’t feasible, or no specific moment stands out. Possibilities include genetic predispositions, lack of socialization as a puppy, a dramatic event, neglect, and frustration from unmet needs. Dogs have feelings and needs that must be addressed.

Have you ever felt extreme anxiety, only to have someone say, “just relax?” Did it help? Likely not; it might have even made you feel worse. You are a sentient being with emotions, and so is your dog. But help and progress is possible. As a certified positive reinforcement trainer, I can help you and your dog move forward together.

Talk With a Trainer