“Help! My dog is barking and lunging on a leash, he’s so aggressive!”

Written by CIERRA PLOC-CANNING, dog trainer extraordinaire

Let’s take a moment to dive into leash reactivity…what it is, why it happens and, if you’re struggling, how you can begin to enjoy walking your canine friend.

Reactivity can be defined as an unwanted behaviour in response to a stimulus; including but not limited to, people, squirrels or dogs. These behaviours include, but are not limited to, barking, lunging, pulling towards the stimulus, or fixating and refusing to move any further.

Why is my dog reacting like this?

Most commonly, dogs react on leash due to prey drive, over-excitement and frustration. It is widely assumed these behaviours manifest due to prior abuse or neglect, however that is not the case for the majority of dogs.

How do I help my dog balance their reactivity?

Enjoyable walks start with leadership. The first thing you can do to help your dog is increase handler value. You can do this by daily obedience training in your home, existential feeding, crate training and becoming the source of all things valuable.

Another useful tip is to find your dogs threshold; at what distance can your dog be successful at having their attention on you rather than that dog, squirrel or bike. Try to avoid head on approaches with other dogs and create distance where possible.

Avoid on leash meeting with other dogs!

Some people may think their dog just needs to meet that other dog before they settle. Leash greetings can further frustration, and build anticipation that every dog they see they will get the chance to meet, which only increases their desire to react to that dog.

Determine the source of your pups reactivity by reaching out and working with a trainer. They can help you condition wanted behaviours, build clearer communication and counter-condition those big reactions that can feel overwhelming.