Pet Harmony

Episode #172 - If Treats Fixed Reactivity, You’d Be Done by Now

No soapboxes were harmed in the making of this episode.

June 22, 2026

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TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen):

1️⃣ Treats are only a part of the plan – If a pet is already too stressed, treats aren’t what they need; they need relief. 
 
2️⃣ Go back to basics before you panic – Threshold, treat value, timing, session length, and your own anxiety are places to reflect on.
 
3️⃣ Reactivity is a symptom – Not a character flaw, or even the primary issue. Look deeper.
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Episode Overview:

You bought the “good” treats, you know, the all-natural, human-grade, $14-a-bag ones. You’ve got the *perfect* dedicated pouch after hours of research. You’ve studied your protocol. Shoot, at this point, you could probably coach your friends through it. 
 
And you have followed it with the devotion of a formerly gifted child who has to do everything right the first time, or the world will come crashing down. 
 
And your dog is still screaming at every dog, jogger, and suspicious mailbox on the block. 
In this episode, Allie and Emily see your perfectionism and your frustration, and meet you with empathy, compassion, a little sass, and at least 2 rambling, but important soapboxes. 
 
We’ll talk about why treats stall and walk you through some of the things we troubleshoot when things get stuck: threshold, treat value, timing, session length, and your own anxiety. Because addressing reactivity isn’t about a single moment, it’s about the whole picture.

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Meet the Hosts

Allie pic with Oso

Allie Bender, CDBC, CPDT-KA, SBA

Allie Bender is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, and a Shelter Behavior Affiliate. She has been in the animal welfare industry since 2006 and professionally training since 2012. She is the founder and co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker.

While in the animal sheltering industry, Allie realized that her passion lied in helping pets with maladaptive behaviors. Today she spends most of her time teaching other trainers and behavior professionals the skills they need to have their most fulfilling, sustainable careers.

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EMIly strong

Emily Strong has been in the animal welfare industry since 1990 and has been a behavior consultant since 2008. She is the co-owner of Pet Harmony, co-author of Canine Enrichment for the Real World, and a national speaker. 

Emily started working with animals at a young age and struggled with the notion that you have to hurt, scare, or intimidate animals to help them. Emily loves helping current and prospective behavior professionals and working with pet parents through our in-depth services. She enjoys working with all species.

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Results are not guaranteed because behavior, human, canine, or otherwise, are not guaranteeable.

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