🐾 Behaviour First Aid: It’s a RIAT

By Christian Pace

The RIAT Method is a trauma-informed, science-based approach to managing behaviour in the moment... before you get behavioural advice. It is not meant to be final advice—especially when your pet is overwhelmed, reactive, or struggling. It’s not about fixing everything at once. It’s about stabilising the situation safely and compassionately, and preventing further deterioration.

🔁 R – Reward Good Behaviour

• Catch the calm: Reinforce any moment of calm, curiosity, or disengagement from the trigger.

• Use what matters: Treats, praise, toys—whatever your pet values most.

• Be immediate: Reward within 1–2 seconds of the behaviour you want to see again.

🚫 I – Ignore (Don’t Punish)

• No scolding, no shouting, no leash pops: These escalate fear and damage trust.

• Ignore doesn’t mean do nothing: It means don’t reinforce or punish the behaviour.

• Redirect instead: Shift focus to something safe and doable.

  
  

⚠️ A – Avoid Triggers

• Prevention is protection: If you know what sets your pet off, don’t expose them unnecessarily.

• Distance is your friend: More space = more safety = more learning.

• Use barriers, exits, or detours: Your job is to keep your pet under the threshold.

  
  

🧠 T – Train an Incompatible Behaviour

• Choose a behaviour they can do instead: Sitting, sniffing, looking at you.

• Make it easy: Start in calm settings before asking for it near triggers.

• Reinforce heavily: Make the new behaviour more rewarding than the old one.

🧯 In Case of Escalation

• Stay calm: Your pet reads your body language.

• Create space: Move away from the trigger calmly, without yanking or panicking.

• Don’t engage: No eye contact, no verbal correction.

• Use food scatter or retreat cues: These can break the cycle and reset focus.

🧩 Why Call a Behaviourist

• the behaviour is escalating

• your pet is injuring themselves or others

• you feel overwhelmed or unsafe

• you’re unsure what the trigger is

• you need a plan tailored to your pet’s history and needs