Feisty Fido
Private Training for Reactive & Aggressive Dogs in Adelaide
Does your dog bark, lunge, growl, snap or struggle with big reactions around dogs, people or other triggers?
Living with a reactive or aggressive dog can make everyday life stressful. Walks become difficult, visitors require careful planning, and you may find yourself constantly trying to avoid situations that could trigger a reaction.
Feisty Fido provides personalised, positive reinforcement training and behaviour support for reactive and aggressive dogs across Adelaide’s southern suburbs and Adelaide Hills.
We focus on understanding what is driving your dog’s behaviour, putting practical management strategies in place and helping your dog develop skills to cope more successfully with the situations they find difficult.
Is Feisty Fido Right for Your Dog?
Feisty Fido is designed for dogs who have strong or explosive reactions to particular triggers.
Your dog may:
✔ Bark and lunge at other dogs on walks
✔ Growl, snap or air snap
✔ React strongly to unfamiliar people
✔ Struggle when visitors come to the home
✔ Fixate on dogs, people, cars or bikes
✔ Become highly aroused and difficult to disengage
✔ Struggle to calm down after encountering a trigger
✔ Have a history of biting or aggressive behaviour
✔ Make walks or outings stressful and difficult to manage
Reactive and aggressive behaviour can have many underlying causes, including fear, frustration, anxiety, stress and over-arousal.
Our aim is to understand your individual dog and develop a training and management plan appropriate to their needs.
Choose Your Feisty Fido Program
Both programs begin with a comprehensive 2-hour in-home consultation where we take the time to understand your dog, the situations they find difficult and your goals.
We’ll discuss practical management strategies, begin appropriate training and develop a personalised written training plan for your dog.
Both programs also include a “Give me Space” bandana, relevant training resources and support between sessions.
The main difference is the amount of follow-up support included.
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Feisty Fido Comprehensive
More Time & Ongoing Behaviour Support
The Comprehensive Program is ideal for dogs and families who would benefit from more time to work through behaviour challenges and additional opportunities for coaching as training progresses.
Behaviour change takes time, particularly when strong emotional responses are involved. Five follow-up sessions give us more opportunities to progress the training gradually, troubleshoot challenges and adapt the plan as we learn more about your dog.
Includes:
1 × 2-hour initial consultation
5 × 60-minute follow-up sessions
Personalised written training plan
“Give Me Space” dog bandana
Relevant training materials and resources
Support between sessions
Investment: $1,140
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Feisty Fido Standard
Personalised Behaviour Support With Follow-Up Coaching
The Standard Program provides a comprehensive assessment and personalised training plan, followed by three sessions to help you put the plan into practice and progress your dog’s training.
During your follow-up sessions, we can review progress, troubleshoot challenges, adjust strategies where needed and gradually build on your dog’s skills.
If you’d like more time and more opportunities for ongoing coaching as your dog progresses, our Comprehensive Program includes two additional follow-up sessions.
Includes:
1 × 2-hour initial consultation
3 × 60-minute follow-up sessions
Personalised written training plan
“Give Me Space” dog bandana
Relevant training materials and resources
Support between sessions
Investment: $830
Our Approach to Reactive & Aggressive Dog Training
Reactive and aggressive behaviour can have many underlying causes, including fear, frustration, anxiety, stress and over-arousal. Rather than simply trying to stop behaviours such as barking or lunging, we look at why the behaviour is happening and what your dog needs to cope more successfully.
We use positive reinforcement and evidence-informed behaviour modification, without relying on fear, pain or intimidation.
Depending on your dog’s individual needs, training may include:
✔ Building engagement and focus
✔ Helping your dog disengage from triggers
✔ Reducing stress and emotional overwhelm
✔ Teaching practical coping skills
✔ Gradual behaviour modification around triggers
✔ Confidence building
✔ Understanding canine body language
✔ Practical management strategies for everyday life
We do not use shock collars, prong collars, choke chains, lead corrections, alpha rolls or intimidation-based training methods.
Our team combines professional education with practical experience supporting reactive and sensitive dogs, including completion of the internationally recognised Aggression in Dogs Master Course.
Feisty Fido or Cautious Canines?
Fearful and reactive behaviour can sometimes look similar, so it isn’t always obvious which program is the best fit.
Cautious Canines
Cautious Canines is generally more appropriate for dogs whose response to fear or uncertainty is to avoid, retreat, freeze or try to create distance.
These dogs may hide behind their owner, avoid unfamiliar people or dogs, freeze when worried, startle easily or try to escape uncomfortable situations.
Feisty Fido
Feisty Fido is designed for dogs whose reactions tend to be larger, more intense or more difficult to manage.
These dogs may bark and lunge, growl, snap or bite, fixate on triggers, become highly aroused or struggle to disengage around dogs, people, visitors or other triggers.
Still unsure? Get in touch before booking and we can help you determine which program is most appropriate for your dog.
Real Results From Dog Owners
“With Paws & Reward’s help we were able to support our dog in ways we honestly never thought possible. It brought a sense of peace to both us and our dog.”
— Maddy, Paul and Oscar
"After just a few short sessions, Douglas can now see another dog and redirect his attention back to me without barking or lunging. He's like a whole new dog—confident and excited to explore the world instead of being scared of it."
-Shanna and Douglas
“This program was so much more effective because it was tailored to Ollie’s individual needs. He actually enjoyed the training too, which was huge.”
— Rebecca and Ollie
“The Feisty Fido Program has helped me become a far more confident dog owner. Even my 15-year-old reactive terrier has benefitted.”
— Lara and Nina
Reactive & Aggressive Dog Training FAQs
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Reactive dogs have an intense response to particular situations or triggers. This might include barking, lunging, growling, fixating or becoming highly aroused when they see another dog, person, vehicle or other trigger.
Reactivity can be influenced by emotions such as fear, frustration, anxiety or excitement, and the reason can differ from dog to dog.
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We regularly work with dogs who bark and lunge at other dogs.
Rather than focusing only on stopping the behaviour, we look at what is driving your dog’s reaction, how you can manage encounters more safely and what skills may help your dog cope more successfully around their triggers.
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Yes. A bite history does not automatically prevent a dog from receiving behaviour support.
Please provide as much information as possible about previous incidents when booking so we can understand your dog’s individual circumstances and plan appropriately.
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Yes. We use positive reinforcement and reward-based behaviour modification and do not use shock collars, prong collars, choke chains, lead corrections or intimidation-based techniques.
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Feisty Fido is available across our service area in Adelaide’s southern suburbs and Adelaide Hills.
Your initial consultation generally takes place in your home. If your dog finds visitors particularly stressful, we can begin online via Microsoft Teams.
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There isn't a set timeframe. Progress depends on your dog’s behaviour history, triggers, environment, underlying emotions and opportunities to practise.
Behaviour change often takes time, particularly when strong emotional responses are involved. We’ll help you establish realistic goals for your individual dog and give you strategies you can continue using beyond your sessions.
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Every dog is different, so we don't promise a particular behavioural outcome.
For some dogs, training may lead to greater comfort and an improved ability to disengage around other dogs. For others, ongoing management and maintaining greater distance may continue to be important.
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Sometimes. Pain, health conditions and significant anxiety can all affect behaviour.
Depending on your dog’s history and presentation, we may recommend discussing their behaviour with your veterinarian or seeking additional veterinary behaviour support alongside training.
You Don’t Have to Navigate Reactive Behaviour Alone
Living with a reactive or aggressive dog can affect walks, visitors, outings and everyday family life.
Feisty Fido gives you a personalised training and management plan, practical strategies and ongoing professional support to help you better understand your dog and work towards safer, more manageable everyday situations.
