In this video, I’m getting real about leash reactivity—because what made this so hard for me wasn’t just the barking, pulling, and the eruption at the end of the leash. It was the shame. Aura was born in my home while I was fostering her mom, and I never planned to keep a puppy… but I did. And when she started becoming worried and reactive, I spiraled and blamed myself, thinking I ruined her. After reaching out to a ton of experienced professionals (training, behavior, and vet help), I learned the biggest thing I need you to hear: it is not your fault. Genetics are strong, and you can do everything “right” and still end up with a dog who’s suspicious of the world. I’m starting a series documenting the good, the bad, and all my mistakes as I help Aura become braver and more confident—because the progress we’ve made has blown my mind. The first shift that helped us wasn’t a training trick—it was redefining success. For us, success became recovery: how fast Aura can shake off a trigger and get back to sniffing and exploring. I also had to stop trying to force progress by doing too much at once, slow down, add rest days, and commit to force-free, positive reinforcement work with a pro. And yes—I’m also bridging nutrition into this, because behavior doesn’t exist in a vacuum. What our dogs eat impacts their brain, gut, and behavior, and I want to show that connection through real-life documentation.