Oxford based Dog Behaviour Specialist Publishes New Book Challenging Traditional Approaches to Dog Reactivity
Oxford, United Kngdom- Dog behaviour specialist and Founder of The Oxford Dog Training Company, Anthony Thomas, has published a new book that challenges conventional thinking around canine reactivity and aggression.
The book, Reactive to Regulated: A Calm, Clear and Controlled Approach to Dog Reactivity, argues that many reactive behaviours commonly seen in dogs – including barking, lunging, growling and loss of control – are often symptoms of underlying emotional dysregulation rather than the problem itself.
Drawing on more than a decade of professional experience, over 14,500 hours working with dogs, and over 1000 dogs worked with, the book brings together learning theory, behavioural science, neuroscience, and real-world case experience into a practical framework designed to help dogs become calmer, more confident, and better able to cope with everyday life.
“Much of the advice available to dog owners focuses on stopping behaviour,” said Anthony. “My experience has been that lasting change comes from understanding why the behaviour is happening in the first place and helping the dog develop the emotional skills needed to cope with the world around them.”
Available through Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats, Reactive to Regulated explores topics including:
- The underlying causes of reactive behaviour
• Fear, frustration and emotional regulation
• Stress reduction and nervous system regulation
• Building impulse control and resilience
• Creating practical training plans that produce lasting change
• Strengthening the relationship between dogs and their owners
The book also traces the historical development of dog training, examining the work of figures such as Darwin, Pavlov, Skinner, Lorenz, Mech, and modern trainers including Cesar Millan and Victoria Stilwell, while proposing a unifying framework that combines learning, emotional state, and social structure.
The book has already received praise from respected figures within the international dog behaviour community.
Cheri Wulff Lucas, canine behaviour consultant, said:
“Most trainers either understand dogs intellectually or know how to work with them in the real world – Anthony is one of the rare few who has mastered both. His depth of knowledge, combined with his ability to apply it with clarity and precision, sets him apart in a meaningful way.”
German canine behaviour specialist Katrin Scholz added:
“I had the pleasure of meeting Anthony here in Germany. His loving and very appropriate way of interacting with our dogs was simply beautiful to witness, and it was a joy to see how he found the right approach for each dog – large to small, anxious to aggressive, friendly to standoffish.”
Anthony is the founder of Oxford Dog Training Company, which works with dog owners across Oxfordshire and beyond to address behaviour problems including reactivity, aggression, anxiety, and impulse-control issues.
Reactive to Regulated is available now on Amazon.
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