What is leash reactivity?
Leash reactivity is one of the most common behavior issues that dog owners and trainers encounter. Reactivity is expressed through undesired behaviors such barking, lunging, growling, and pulling while on a leash. These explosive reactions are caused by dogs being triggered by stimulus (i.e., strangers, dogs, squirrels, cars, etc) and the inability to use their natural instincts of fight or flight because they are restricted by a leash.
There are many types of reactivity and no two dogs will perceive environmental stimuli in the same manner. Leash reactivity can be caused by over-excitement, frustration, protective instincts, fear, etc. Once a dog has learned to be reactive on their leash, it will not go away without intervention. In order to improve your dog’s reactivity, you must improve their emotional state when triggers present themselves on your walk.
How to improve leash reactivity:
- Start by bringing your dog to a public environment where you know their will be triggers
- Sit on a park bench or on the tailgate of your car with your dog on a leash
- Keep your dog in a controlled position – i.e., sit or lie down
- Bring high value rewards with you – high value rewards can be any treats that your dog loves (i.e., beef liver, cheese, etc)
- Every time a stimulus walks past you, reward your dog heavily with “high value” rewards (i.e., beef liver, cheese) to begin a positive association with the stimulus
- Once your dog is calmly observing the triggers, begin your walk
- During the walk, have your dog sit every time a stimulus appears and allow them to calmly observe the stimulus walk by while rewarding
- Once the stimulus has passed, continue your walk
Behavior Modification
This will begin the process of behavior modification, which is changing our dogs emotional state during high stress situations. This practice will encourage your dog to stay relaxed and calm which will set them up for success. Repeat these steps frequently and over-time your dog will begin engaging with you during your walk for reward when one of their triggers appears as it has been positively associated!
Appropriate Gear:
A standard 6ft leash is great for keeping your dog close by to hear your commands and keep their attention focused on you. It also provides consistency. This can be very helpful for a dog that is already susceptible to stress. With a retractable or bungee leash the length they can travel varies and can aid reactivity.
A properly fitting harness helps to distribute pressure along your dog’s body instead of their neck, potentially causing them harm. A harness can also help reduce stress for your dog. When a collar starts to restrict or “choke”, it can create a reaction that heightens the reactivity more as they try to escape the collar.
Treats are a must when training. Bring high reward treats to every training session and walk as you try to correct the reactive behaviour. The high reward treat creates a positive association with the stimulus.
Check out More Resources Below:
https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/dog-aggression
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-deal-with-leash-aggression/