Grisha Stewart - Giving Reactive Dogs the Lead: How to Teach Social Skills to Dogs

What do mathematics and misbehaving mutts have in common?

This week on the Soul Touched by Dogs podcast, I sit down with Grisha Stewart, a self-described behaviour nerd who made the leap from math lecturer to world-renowned dog trainer. Yep, from numbers to nosework 😛

Grisha created BAT (Behavior Adjustment Training), a beautifully intuitive method that helps reactive and anxious dogs find calm - not through bribery or correction, but by giving them agency. It’s training as a gentle dance, not a tug-of-war.

We talk about the heartbreak of having a dog who “doesn’t behave” in public, the magic of working with a dog’s instincts (instead of muscling against them), and why the real secret sauce often lies in helping humans breathe, pause, and trust.

You’ll also hear how her soulmate dog, Peanut, taught her more than any seminar could, and why the path to healing sometimes involves therapy dogs, awkward cabinets, and a few emotional meltdowns (from both species).

If you’ve ever felt judged at the end of a leash, or wondered if your dog was just “too much”, this one’s for you. Come for the insights, stay for the laughs, and leave feeling a little more seen.

🐾 Hit play, and let’s explore the softer side of behaviour science.

To find out more and connect with Grisha:

Website: https://school.grishastewart.com
Bio: My name is Grisha Stewart and my family tree has more dogs than humans!

I'm best known among dog trainers for developing Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT), a humane, trauma-informed, attachment-informed technique for dog aggression, frustration, and fear. I also love teaching all kinds of life skills, so this online school covers a lot of different subjects.

Through my international dog seminars, DVDs, books, and my in-person and online training schools, I've helped well over 200,000 dogs and their people thrive.

Some of the links.
https://school.grishastewart.com
https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/bat2

https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/leash-walking

https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/human
https://StellarVillage.com

As always, all about Soul Touched by Dogs at https://soultouchedbydogs.com