One common call trainers receive is for leash reactivity. A dog who is otherwise social is barking and lunging when a leash is attached. While it can be embarrassing or disheartening it can be helped, managed, and in some cases prevented.
Common causes
- Frustration
A dog that has learned that other dogs or people are all their friends may feel frustrated when they are prevented from greeting them! This does not mean your dog should be allowed to greet dogs when they are acting this way. This can reinforce the behavior and make it worse in the future. Their exuberant behavior may also elicit a correction from the other dog, which could cause a dog fight if not well received.
- Fear
While on a leash, a dog has limited options. They can’t run or hide in most circumstances and thus choose to fight when they feel threatened. They may not be actively looking to harm the other dog or person, but believe that if they present themselves in a threatening way the other party will choose to run.
- Prey Drive
This is more commonly seen in dogs that react to small animals or cats, but this can be applied to other dogs in some cases. Our dogs have the hardwire of a predator. Many of the jobs their ancestors were bred to do stem from a part of the predation cycle. Predatory reactivity will likely be quieter, involve more stalking than barking and may explode into lunging once closer to the trigger.
Prevention
The easiest way to prevent reactivity is early socialization. Show your dog when they are young that the world is not a scary place, but also that not everyone needs to be their friend. Aim for a dog that is optimistic but neutral. This can be done by exposing them to a variety of different people, dogs, sounds, textures and experiences, while not allowing them to greet, or be greeted by every stranger they meet. This will help stop frustration based reactivity by not setting your dog up to anticipate meeting strange dogs or people. This can also help fear based reactivity by showing them that they are safe in this world with you.
Some dogs may be adopted later in life or just have a genetic predisposition to being reactive. With these dogs, try to stop the reaction before it starts. Learn canine body language and stress signs and remove your dog from the situation if needed. Pay attention to your dogs “threshold” how close they can be to the trigger before reacting. Try to keep your dog under threshold while gradually exposing them to the trigger. In some instances you may need to walk away. Seek professional help where necessary.
For predatory reactivity, pay attention to your dog’s body language. If they start to hard stare or stalk towards a person or animal, attempt to interrupt this behavior. This is usually done with a verbal command such as “leave it” or “off” but even calling your dog to walk in the other direction can be helpful. Practice observing whatever your dog views as prey from a distance, rewarding your dog for remaining calm and interrupting them when they start to hunt.
While reactivity can be difficult it is not a hopeless cause. Learn your dog’s tales and start early to prevent reactive outbursts from happening.
