Have you ever felt your stomach tighten the moment another dog appears on a walk? This episode is for you.

We sat down with dog behaviorist Mena Lopes to talk about reactivity, what it actually is, why it happens, and why it’s so often misunderstood. What we kept coming back to is this: it’s not about having a “bad dog.” It’s about understanding what’s going on underneath the behavior.

We also get into potty training, regression (because yes, that happens), and how to stay kind to yourself on the harder days, the ones where nothing seems to be working.

Guest Bio:

Mena Lopes is a dog trainer and behaviorist, and the founder of Ginger’s Way in Dubai. Originally trained in conservation biology, her work today focuses on helping dogs and their humans navigate things like reactivity, anxiety, and everyday challenges, in a way that feels practical, supportive, and realistic.

Takeaways:

• Reactivity isn’t random, it’s often rooted in fear, stress, or uncertainty
• Your dog isn’t doing it on purpose (even when it feels like it)
• Progress takes time, much longer than most people expect
• Understanding your dog changes how you respond
• Small signals matter more than the big reactions
• Potty training isn’t linear (and regression is part of it)
• You can work on behavior while still accepting your dog as they are
• Not every dog needs to be social, and that’s okay
• “Good behavior” often goes unnoticed (until it changes)
• Management and training are two different things, and both matter
• Sometimes the biggest shift is helping the human feel less like they’ve failed
• Context matters, behavior isn’t one-size-fits-all
• You don’t need a perfect dog, just a better understanding of your own

Relevant links mentioned in the episode:

• Ginger's Way: Instagram / Facebook / Website
• Leash Explorer: Instagram / Website
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• Piper's Founders Pack - Sign up to our Tails and Tones waiting list for our first product (Elevated Food System) here
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Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:

[00:00]-Intro

[02:22] – Mena’s story + how Ginger changed everything

[05:06] – What people misunderstand about dog behavior

[06:25] – What reactivity actually looks like day-to-day

[07:41] – Where to start with a reactive dog

[09:14] – Why we often need to train the human first

[12:26] – How reactivity becomes a pattern

[13:03] – When behavior changes later on (and what to do)

[16:01] – The myth around “rewarding bad behavior”

[17:55] – Can reactivity really be fixed?

[22:29] – The subtle signs we often miss

[27:02] – The idea behind Leash Explorer

[30:46] – Potty training expectations vs reality

[35:08] – Why accidents happen (even later on)

[37:33] – What training looks like on hard days

[38:28] – Stories that stay with you

Notes

Pipers Founders Pack: Mention it is the first 100 but we extended it to the first 150 people.