Leslie McDevitt’s Requested Approach Training (RAT) is, in my opinion, one of the most brilliant protocols we have for dogs with big feelings—especially reactivity. In this video I break RAT down into the three core ideas that make it work: it empowers the dog to request approaches (instead of being forced into them), it uses voluntary start-button behaviours for cooperative counter-conditioning, and it turns stressful, unpredictable encounters into predictable, positive experiences. From there I walk through several variations and more advanced applications. We can start with a classic setup like a mat + chin rest, where the helper only moves when the dog is actively “saying yes,” and we pause or reset when the dog lifts their head. Then I show how to add flexibility (like multiple cones so the helper doesn’t always have to return to the original spot), or flip the game so the dog approaches the helper instead—same principle, different picture. I also talk about integrating Look At That (LAT) with RAT, and a key detail many people miss: reinforce “no,” use the same value reinforcer for yes and no, and think in terms of pressure changes (increase pressure, decrease pressure) to keep the whole process truly choice-based and humane.