Does your dog ever growl and bark at bicycles, people or other dogs? The reaction can be scary, but good training can help you and your dog have a more comfortable walk.
What is Reactivity?
Reactivity is any time a dog has a disproportionate emotional response to a stimulus. To put it more simply: your dog gets scared when he sees something that should be a normal, non-threatening part of his day.
There are all kinds of possible triggers, but common ones include other dogs, bicycles, cars, and strangers. Some dogs may have more specific triggers, such as people wearing hats or large dogs. Some dogs have only one trigger for their response, while other dogs may have many.
Reactions are usually seen as crying, barking and lunging when stimulated, but their reactions can sometimes manifest in different ways, such as pinching or shaking you or their leash and being scared. . . This reaction can happen anywhere (think of your dog barking at the windows when the UPS truck arrives), but for the sake of this article, we'll focus on the leash reaction. This is where most people have trouble reacting as their dogs snap on their leashes to pounce on friendly faces during their daily walks.
As their owner, it is important for you to understand that reactivity is not the same thing as aggression. People often understandably but wrongly assume that a barking, lunging dog is mean and aggressive, but the truth is that they are often just scared! They feel scared and out of control, and they just want to get the scary thing away from them. Guide your dog with compassion and understanding, and you can share a positive and loving training experience with your best friend.
Note: The following training points are geared toward leash reactivity vs. aggression. If you are experiencing problems with an aggressive dog that has hurt you or others, we recommend working with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist.
Control Reactions for Safety
Training is a gradual process, so it's important to take whatever steps you can to minimize bad experiences during this time. This means less stress and more safety for companions and – most importantly – your dog. Try these techniques to see what works best for your dog!
Avoid walking your dog at busy times and in busy areas. Take your long walks in the park at night when there are fewer people and dogs around or take a nature walk during the day instead of the dog park.
Remove your dog from stressful situations. When you see your dog's trigger walking toward you on the sidewalk, physically move your dog out of the way to reduce his fear and chances of interaction. Pick up small dogs (and consider covering their eyes) and take large dogs off the sidewalk — cross the street or walk between parked cars until the coast is clear.
Use a harness with good control. The best collar for on-leash dogs isn't a collar at all — it's a dog harness! Using a body harness provides a more secure grip on your dog and prevents it from hurting their neck when they are limping. The front clip body harness is even better at redirecting their lungs. Using a head halter can give you more control and help direct your dog's gaze away from their stimulus and back to you.
Even if you've completed basic dog leash reaction training, it's still important to remember these basic techniques to keep them coming back. Even the best training doesn't always work 100% of the time, and your dog may slip up from time to time. You are their safety net, so be ready to help your dog and manage the situation.
Training & Counter-Conditioning
You don't have to be a dog whisperer to do leash reactivity training! Dog trainers of all levels can change their dog's response.
The best way to train a dog to deal with a reaction is counterconditioning—a training method that teaches them to associate their negative stimuli with good things (such as praise and treats) to reduce their fear. Whether you're seeing warning signs of a reaction in your dog or your already manageable dog's leash reactions are getting worse, you and your dog can benefit from these training techniques. !
Train your dog with a cue that tells him to look at you. This can be a clicker or a simple verbal cue such as "here" or "yes". Make a sound and as soon as they look at you, reward that attention with a treat. This training should be simple and extremely beneficial!
Find a helper. It is best to practice this in a controlled environment with a helper. If they react to people with beards, enlist a friend who doesn't know your dog to help with the beard. If other dogs are their trigger, contact a gentle friend for help (and so on).
Use this cue to distract them from their trigger. Start your training at a distance. Let their trigger appear for a moment, and as soon as your dog sees them but doesn't react, give them their cue and when they start paying attention to you, immediately give them attention. Reward your favorite high value treat. Let your triggers go out of sight and stop rewarding them. BOOM - is a repetition.
Repeat, repeat, repeat. Repeat this technique until your dog knows to look for you when their trigger appears and that they will disappear when the trigger is triggered. They must learn that their encouragement brings good things! Once they are comfortable with the process, it's time to move on.
Make it more advanced. In your next training session, have your helper run closer (eg 30 feet instead of 40 feet). Repeat this process until your dog is comfortable, and then move on again once he's down!
Start walking. Once your dog lets his trigger walk a few feet away without a problem, it's time to get him on his feet. Walk your dog while walking on the sidewalk and let your helper walk in the opposite direction from you. Carry a pocket or bag full of treats with you and follow the exact same procedure—get their attention and reward them until their trigger passes. It may take a few tries, but you'll get there!
The same counterconditioning philosophy can be applied to other areas (like your dog barking out the window) or to more complex interactions (like introducing a leash-reactive dog to another dog)! With time, patience, and consistency, you can reduce reactivity in many different areas of your life with your dog.
Reactive training can be scary, but remember: you're not alone! There are many people who are dealing with the same problems as you, and are willing to empathize and help by sharing their experiences. Find leash-reactive dog discussion communities on Reddit for virtual support, or visit a leash-reactive dog trainer or behaviorist near you. Dog people everywhere love their reactive dogs, and we'll get through this together.
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