Dog owners with Reactive dogs find it hard to take their Dog anywhere. Who knows what other things might be there that will set them off? This can be frustrating for dog owners, and it can be anxiety-inducing for dogs themselves.

The good news is you can teach your dog to be less reactive yourself. Here are my top tips for Reactive Dog Training.

What does a reactive dog look like?

Reactive dogs are often aggressive around strange dogs, people or while connected to a leash.

If your dog jumps or tenses up when you walk near another dog or while at the dog park, your dog likely needs reactive dog training.

Even if your dog doesn’t lunge or bark at other dogs, if your dog stops listening to your commands and loses focus of you when the environment changes, reactivity training would do them some good.

What are common triggers for reactive dogs?

Dogs can be reactive to any object or situation, but there are a few that pop up more than others. Here are the most common triggers for a reactive dog.

Other dogs

Dogs can be very reactive and afraid of their own kind. This can be developed through experience, or it might happen just because they don’t like the look of the other dog.

I’ve seen dogs that can’t stand long-haired poodles, but won’t bat an eye if that same poodle gets shaved.

Leash reactivity

Normally, dogs find comfort in small spaces. But that is only the case when the dog feels safe.

Leashes can be triggering for dogs because they have nowhere to go. If danger appears, their fight or flight response is triggered. When connected to a leash, the dog can’t run away, so they have to be prepared to fight (or so they think).

Humans (specifically men and children)

Dogs can also become triggered around strange people.

This could be a sign of past abuse, but it is more likely a symptom of poor socialization as a puppy. When you don’t get experience with something, it becomes much more terrifying.

Reactive dog body language

Dog reactivity can be noticed first in the dog’s body language.

Reactive dogs become tense whenever they are triggered. If your dog is reactive to other dogs, you may notice them becoming less relaxed as you approach other dogs.

Triggered dogs may not listen to your commands or cues the first time (or the second or third time). In the dog’s mind, there’s evil afoot, and that is the first priority.

Highly reactive dogs may start barking and lunging towards the triggering dog, and they may even bite them if given the chance.

Dog Reactivity Chart

Dog reactivity training you can do yourself

Dog training is done best when dog owners take an active role in the training plan. Going through training with your dog helps build the relationship and trust between you. Here are ways to train a reactive dog yourself.

Desensitization

Desensitizing your dog to its trigger is the best way to help them overcome the fear of it.

This means socializing them early and often. If dealing with a puppy, start taking your puppy lots of places and make them comfortable being around exciting things.

Remember: socializing doesn’t mean saying hi to every dog and person. It means teaching your dog to be calm regardless of environment.

For a dog who’s reactive towards other dogs, take them near a dog park. Don’t go inside, but take them within sight of the other dogs and let them sniff around the environment.

For a dog that reacts towards children, take them near a playground. Allow your dog to observe the children from a safe distance.

If dealing with a rescue dog, desensitizing becomes a little more difficult. Your dog can still learn that not every dog or person is dangerous, but it will take more time.

Build an unconscious positive association

You teach this by providing a reward whenever their trigger appears.

If your dog growls when you come near other dogs, try giving them a treat. Over time, your dog will associate those scary dogs you come across with a tasty reward.

This counter-conditioning will change your dogs emotional response towards their trigger and will lead to a calm behavior overall.

Closing the distance over time

Once your dog is comfortable being within sight of their trigger, start moving them closer towards it.

You don’t have to expose them to dog parks or playgrounds right away. But according to bubble theory dog training, decreasing the size of their “safe space bubble” will lessen the chances of their bubble popping.

As you get closer, continue to reward your dog for good behavior.

At-home exercise and mental stimulation

Humans get cabin fever. Dogs get kennel fever.

Dogs can become reactive when they don’t have an outlet for their energy. Make sure you are giving your dog plenty of mental stimulation and exercise. Some exercises you can do with a reactive dog include:

• Go on sniffing walks with no one else around

• Food puzzle toys

• Fetch

• Tug of war

• Additional training sessions (not for reactivity)

Managing your dog’s reactive behavior

Training is intended to change your dog’s behavior in the long run. But in the meantime, you need to learn how to live with your dog’s reactivity.

If your dog is leash reactive, a long line can help your dog feel more at ease. This gives them more freedom to move and run if they need to.

Anxious dogs are more likely to bark and lunge than properly stimulated dogs. Giving your dog plenty of chew toys and exercise will help decrease their anxiety levels and reduce the chances of reactivity.

Building a schedule around the triggering activities can help a reactive dog as well. If your dog knows when to expect another dog, other dog owners, or any other anxious situation, they’ll know how to handle it better.

Reactive dog training tips

• Do not keep your dog isolated – Fear of the unknown is the worst kind of fear. When dog owners keep their dogs hidden away, the dogs will only become more fearful.

• Always praise and reward your dog for doing the right thing – Dog training often fails because the dogs aren’t rewarded enough for succeeding. Make sure the reward is great enough to make your dog want to keep doing it.

• Look out for any health conditions – Dogs can become reactive if they’re nursing an injury. If this behavior seemed to come out of nowhere, make sure they don’t have a thorn in their paw or a chipped tooth.

• Use a muzzle when training aggressive dogs – If there is a chance that your dog might attack or bite another dog or person, use a muzzle. Your dog will get used to it, and it won’t hurt them one bit.

• Hire an expert or buy a course – There’s only so much I can give you in an article. Dog training courses like SpiritDog Training and K9 Training Institute have great courses specifically for reactive dog training.

• Be consistent and patient – All dog training takes time and effort. If you want the training to stick, you’ll have to dedicate the time to make it happen.

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