LEASH WALKING & LEASH REACTIVITY

There can be multiple causes for why a dog does not walk politely on leash.  

The first cause to look at is the need for obedience and leash handling training. 

Most dogs need training in order to learn how to walk on a leash politely.  An example of a dog that is not yet trained will be pulling on the leash, weaving from side to side, refusing to move forward or pulling backwards.  A combination of obedience training and behavior modification will quickly teach a dog to be an enjoyable dog to walk.

Secondary to this is reactivity while on leash.  It is important to determine if the dog is reactive to things in the environment while it is walking as well as if the dog is leash reactive.  A well trained dog will often still pull even with obedience training if it is reactive to other things in the environment.  Behavioral assessment and training is important in addressing the underlying reactivity issues.

Leash reactivity is a dog's fearful or aggressive response to a trigger while on a leash. It can be triggered by a number of things, including other dogs, people, bikes, cars, and more. 

Some signs of leash reactivity include: 

Barking

Lunging

Growling

Air snapping

Biting

Whining

Pulling on the leash

Dodging

Hiding

Freezing.

Leash reactivity can develop into a chronic problem if left untreated. Dogs may also redirect their aggression onto other people or animals.  If a dog is leash reactive due to fear the fear is often increased as it is unable to escape from a trigger while being on leash.

Below are some tips to help manage leash reactivity:

Keep your dog on a short leash at your side to allow for quick action when a trigger appears

Be aware of your dogs body language and remove them from a situation if they are becoming stressed

Keep a distance from the dogs triggers that allow the dog to stay calm

Walk across the street or away from triggers when needed

Give the dog treats when the dog sees a trigger and remains calm

Hold a treat in front of the dogs nose while walking past a trigger 

Scatter treats in the grass to distract the dog while a trigger is present

Seek training from a professional for behavioral training to address the underlying causes of the leash reactivity

For more information or to request a Behavioral Assessment and Consultation contact us below or call (805) 978 6945.  

We provide your Behavioral Assessment and Consultation free of charge.  At the consultation we will discuss in detail with you what problem behaviors are occurring, what you would like to see happen for you and your dog as a result of training and will perform a Behavioral Assessment of your dog.  This will allow us to evaluate your needs, the current behavior of the dog, what you would like to see from the training and other variables in order to develop a Behavioral Training Plan specific to your dog and situation.