Three ways to manage leash reactivity in your dog, according to an expert trainer
Is your dog leash reactive? A common issue for a lot of pet parents, leash reactivity occurs when a dog barks, growls, lunges, or attempts to jump up when confronted by particular stimuli in their environment.
While leash reactivity is an involuntary emotional state that overwhelms your dog, dealing with it can be both embarrassing and stressful.
Learning how to calm a reactive dog can be hugely beneficial if your pup struggles with reactivity in most situations and environments.
However, if their reactive behavior is largely confined to when they're on a leash, there's a lot you can do to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
Many of us make several common loose leash walking mistakes without realizing it, and these mistakes can end up making reactive behavior more likely.
To help you avoid these and maximize your chances of being able to enjoy a stress-free stroll with your dog, expert trainer Amelia Steele has a few tricks up her sleeve that are well worth trying out.
Read on to find out how you can improve your dog's behavior when you're out walking...
1. Put your dog back on the leash: "I like to shorten the leash just in case but keep it nice and loose so that it doesn't add tension to your dog," Steele advises. "Remember, not everybody's dog is friendly and allowing your dog to approach other unknown dogs can cause major issues in the long run."
2. Bring your dog to the outside of you: "If the other dog is approaching to your left, then you want to bring your dog over to the right-hand side of you. This just puts more distance between the dogs and it makes everything much easier."
3. Maintain engagement with your dog: According to Steele, doing this as you pass other dogs will prevent your dog from fixating. "Fixating can not only trigger a reaction in the other dog, but it can also create reactivity in your dog in the long run, so it really helps to keep your dog's focus on you as you're passing another dog."
Reactivity can be incredibly challenging to deal with, but with time, patience, and consistency, you can make huge positive progress with your dog's reactive behavior.
If you find this isn't happening after several months of working with your dog on their leash reactivity, we recommend reaching out to a professional trainer who will be able to work with your dog 1:1.