Why some dogs are leash reactive and how to help them
What is leash reactivity in dogs? Some dogs over-react to people or other dogs while on a leash. These same dogs may be calm and relaxed off-leash, but they react by lunging, pulling on the leash, and barking when on a leash. This is very common because it cannot escape a frightening encounter when a dog is leashed. So, because they cannot flee, the other instinct is to fight.
What causes this? There are five main factors that can contribute to leash reactivity with dogs. Fear is a common element. Leash reactivity is usually caused by a combination of the following factors:
- Genetics — some breeds are more prone to reactivity.
- Personality — some dogs are more fearful by nature.
- Socialization — well-socialized dogs are less prone to reactivity because they are more familiar with various stimuli and environments.
- Traumatic Events — A dog that has had a bad experience on a leash or was attacked by another dog has a much higher chance of becoming reactive on a leash.
- Lack of Training — Teaching your dog self-control and desensitization training can be very beneficial to reactive dogs. Teaching a dog how to behave around new people and new places will help resolve reactivity. Expecting a dog to grow out of a reactive response without training is unrealistic.
What can you do to help your dog be less reactive and more calm on walks?
Training your dog to be calm when out in public from the start is ideal. If you have a young dog, once they have been fully vaccinated, take them for walks and trips to home depot and other dog-friendly low interaction places. Reward them for calm behavior. Allow them to see strangers but do not expect to be able to interact with all new people without permission. Teach them to wait for a cue before greeting new people. It is okay to tell new people to please not touch your dog because they are in training. If your dog is shy, teaching them that they are safe with you will help reduce reactivity as well. I don’t recommend taking puppies to dog parks. If they get attacked as a puppy, it can make them reactive and very fearful. This takes a lot of work and patience to overcome.
But, sometimes, you don’t bring a young puppy with a clean slate home. Sometimes, you are working with a dog with some established bad habits. This is very common with rescued dogs that may have been afraid in a shelter setting or, worse, mistreated by a previous owner.
The method that I learned was the desensitization method. In this method, you take your dog out for a walk. Start somewhere quiet and not crowded. A suburban neighborhood is ideal. While walking in this quiet suburban neighborhood, have a pocketful of your dog’s favorite treats. Think about things like chunks of steak or chicken. If you know this neighborhood and know where the barking dogs live, it is even better. As you approach the reactive zone, have the treats ready and treat your dog when they are calm and quiet. Take a few steps closer, treat your dog for calm behavior. If your dog starts to react, take enough steps back to where your dog is calm again and repeat. Practice this repeatedly until you can walk past the barking dog’s house without a reaction from your dog. Rewarding your dog for being calm is key. Do not give your dog treats while they are barking or lunging. The timing of the treats needs to coincide with good calm behavior. Do not use the treats as a distraction when your dog is going berserk. This will only reinforce the reactive behavior which is the opposite of your goal.
As your dog improves in the quiet suburban neighborhood, you can go to more crowded places and use the same technique. You may find that this training takes a lot longer than teaching a dog to sit or lie down. It does. This training goes against their instincts, and you are dealing with a fear response. Patience will be necessary.
If your dog is reactive and there is any possibility that you will be in a crowded place or another person or dog may get too close to your dog, I would suggest that you muzzle train your dog while on walks to be on the safe side. If your dog bites a human or another dog while in training, it can cause a lot more trouble than the sight of your dog walking down the street wearing a muzzle.
