Reactive Dogs

If you are still struggling with your Reactive dog please reach out to me and I would be happy to set up a Training session or virtual call to help.

Understanding the difference between leash reactivity and aggression

Motivation:

Leash reactivity is usually driven by fear or anxiety, where the dog feels trapped and threatened by the situation, while aggression is often motivated by dominance, territoriality, or a desire to control the environment. 

Body language:


A leash reactive dog might show signs of stress like lip licking, whale eye, tucked tail, and excessive barking, whereas an aggressive dog might display more direct threat signals like stiff body posture, raised hackles, and direct staring. 

Severity of behavior:


Leash reactivity can manifest as excited barking and pulling on the leash, while aggression could involve snapping, biting, or attempting to physically harm other dogs or people. 

Starting point to controlling leash reactivity 

To help your dogs with their reactivity we need to:

  • Read and understand your dogs reactivity in different situations to determine a baseline 
  • Read and understand your dog’s body language in different situations in both discomfort and comfort zones (ears, eyes, mouth, body, tail) 
  • Understanding the discomfort, tolerance and discomfort zones 

Putting Reactivity into context: what happens around your dog right before behavior in each zone 

  • Did any sounds appear or change (loud or soft)?
  • Did anything appear or change (closer or further)?
  • How far away was it when your dog’s behavior changed? 
  • Did something get faster or slower?
  • Did anything else change? (smell, tension in leash, direction, movement of an object) 

Shrinking the problem: 

  • Avoid the tolerance and discomfort zones completely
  • Barking out windows: curtains and limit access to windows 
  • Barking through fence : leash in backyard
  • Reactive to dogs on walk: choose low to no activity areas to walk dog  
  • Find ways to engage with your dog that do not involve their triggers/ situations that put them in the tolerance and discomfort zones. 

Equipment: 

  • Flat collar / martingale collar / harness and a non-extendable leash 

Skills: 

  •  Leash Lock 
  • Leash Brace 
  • Judgemental/ situational awareness 

Regimen to keep leash reactivity from coming back 

Use your Team and Handler Skills to handle situations in the different zones:

  • Discomfort Zone:
    • Treat Hand (Hand, tube or spoon) 
    • Emergency U-Turn 
  • Tolerance Zone:
    • Blocking 
    • Paws up 
    • Park it 
    • Stations 
    • Arcing around the trigger 
  • Comfort Zone:
    • Engage with me 
    • Check in 
    • Find it 

If you are still struggling with your Reactive dog please reach out to me and I would be happy to set up a Training session or virtual call to help.