This is where the trainers will work heavily on commands—like sit, stay, come, and place—and they'll do a great job…

But they never address the actual aggression or reactivity.

Do this, and yes, your dog will listen in your backyard or an empty park.

But the second a trigger shows up?

It all falls apart.

This is when the trainer intentionally exposes the dog to the trigger — usually up close and repeatedly — knowing that your dog is going to react aggressively.

And then, through punishment or harsh corrections… they try to shut down the barking, lunging, biting, etc.

The idea is: "If we just make the dog face the fear long enough… and we don't allow them to react, they'll eventually get used to it and stop reacting."

But here's what really happens:

The pressure doesn't go away.

It builds.

And simmers in silence.

So dogs trained this way often either shut down completely… Or explode worse than ever.

But worst of all, this kind of training breaks trust.

Your dog stops seeing you as their safe place. And starts seeing you as part of the problem.

Because you're not helping them feel better around the trigger. You're just forcing them to hide how bad they feel.

So not only is this awful… it doesn't even work.

This is when trainers tell you to simply avoid all triggers. Forever.

— Turn around if you see another dog.

— Never have guests over.

— Stay away from parks and trails.
— Close all the blinds in the house.

— Don't let them in the yard if neighbors are out.

And if a trigger is unavoidable… do your best to distract or redirect them with treats, toys, and praise.

Now to be clear — short-term management is absolutely necessary in the beginning. You want to prevent your dog from practicing the reactivity.

But most trainers stop there. They make coping the entire strategy.

And while it might reduce reactions in the moment… which understandably feels like progress… your dog never actually learns how to handle these triggers when they inevitably appear.

So they stay just as aggressive & reactive— and you're just working harder and harder to manage their environment.

And this becomes your entire life together.

Your walks turn into tactical missions.

You're constantly scanning the environment.

Avoiding people. Dodging dogs.

Apologizing to neighbors. Making excuses.

Is that fair to your dog? Or to you?

And to be totally honest: perfect management forever is a dangerous risk.

Sooner or later, a dog appears around a corner without warning. A delivery driver knocks when you least expect it. A guest forgets the rules and walks in your house or yard without calling first.

That's how worst nightmares come true.