On walks, one of the biggest challenges I see (and live) is when a dog locks onto another dog and their nervous system goes straight into reaction mode. In this video, I show the simple trick that’s been working really well for Mila: our “search” cue. I pick a clean patch of sidewalk, scatter treats, and say “search,” so she drops her attention into sniffing and foraging instead of scanning for triggers. You’ll see a dog walk by while Mila is searching, and she barely even notices—because I’m setting her up for success with distraction, distance, and calm leash guidance. I also intentionally scatter treats closer to the driveway instead of the sidewalk, since most dogs pass on the sidewalk. When one of Mila’s biggest neighborhood triggers (a big black dog she used to be friends with) comes by, I keep holding the leash, keep the search going, and let the other owner know we’re training and to stay on the sidewalk. The takeaway: scent-based engagement + space + repetition can help reactive dogs stay regulated during real-life walks.