An Intensive Reactivity Workshop with Michael Ellis and Forrest Micke April 22-26, 2025

The Theory and Practice of Rehabbing Reactive Dogs

This five day, in-person, workshop takes a deep dive into the subject of reactivity in dogs. We will cover the how’s and why’s of reactivity, the larger dog training principles that are at play when dealing with reactivity, as well as practical, hands-on techniques to give you and your dog the skills to overcome their reactivity. We intend to discuss both an ideal approach to handling reactive dogs, as well as the often-compromised practical approaches that are inevitably necessary in the real world. We will cover diagnosis, how reactivity gets started and why it persists, the basic neurobiology of reinforcement, canine body language, the role of obedience and motivation in our work, management, tool use, reward-based approaches, and the thoughtful use of aversives.

This course is for those handlers dealing with reactive dogs, new handlers/owners looking to prevent reactivity, and professional dog trainers who work with reactivity on a regular basis.

We are looking for 12 students to bring dogs to help demonstrate the techniques we are discussing. If you are interested in working a dog during the workshop, please email us after registration at info@michaelellisschool.com and we will provide you with an application to participate. Handlers will work directly with Michael and Forrest.

Class will run from 9am to approximately 5 pm daily, with an hour break for lunch. Each day will be a combination of lecture, demonstration, dog work, and video review. It will take place on the campus of The Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers in Santa Rosa, California.

Please note: Registration is first open to MES Members. After about 1 week, registration will open to the general public. If you’re a member, simply sign in to your account here, and then you will be allowed to register.