Many of these leash reactive dogs can be “cured” by simply increasing their exercise routine and giving them more to do every day. They're the equivalent of a child who acts out in school because their basic needs aren't being met at home.
For any dog behavior, once it has been learned it won't be unlearned without intervention. To that end, careful and consistent training is the only reliable means to stop a dog's leash reactivity.
By training a reactive dog you will learn more about yourself and your dog than you ever thought possible. So the answer to the question “can reactive dogs be helped?” is that yes, they can be helped, they can live a normal life and they are definitely worth the time and effort that goes into it.
Leash aggression is solved by a strategy called desensitization and counter-conditioning, which is trainer-speak for reducing your dog's reaction to the offending trigger (other dog, bike or cat), gaining your dog's attention and training a new behavior instead.
Dogs who may normally be friendly with other dogs can sometimes become reactive and aggressive when attached to a leash. This behavioral trait, known as leash aggression or leash reactivity, is most frequently triggered by fear or frustration, although a high prey drive can lead to aggression when leashed as well.
This kind of work can take anywhere from two to 12 months, as that's how long it takes for a dog to learn a new behavior. After that time period, you should be able to substitute negative reactions with positive thoughts.
Dogs that are reactive overreact to certain stimuli or situations. Genetics, lack of socialization, insufficient training to learn self-control, a frightening experience, or a combination of these can cause reactivity, and fear is typically the driving force.
What Causes Leash Reactivity? Dogs who miss the opportunity to explore the world, meet new people and animals, and have a variety of positive experiences during puppyhood might be more likely to exhibit leash reactivity. This is because they're unsure of how to process new situations.
If your dog ever reacts, turn and move your dog far enough away they can calm down. Then, reassess and see if the situation was too close or see if specific triggers can be lessened the next time. Avoid harsh punishment, like leash jerks, as they only negatively affect the dog's emotions around other dogs.
Don't: Go off-leash
You should never take your dog off-leash to see if they are reactive or not. This can put you, other people and animals in danger. If your dog does react, you won't have a way to bring them back under control quickly, which could result in a nasty conflict or injury to another party.
"Many times reactive dogs can [improve] with very consistent training and work," Hoover says. "However, when a fear-based behavior becomes ingrained in a dog, it may never entirely go away.
There are a number of factors that can lead to leash reactivity but often the behavior is rooted in one of two things: fear or frustration. Frustration boils down to the leash.
Leash reactivity is an extremely common behavior in dogs. It is caused by the leash and its restrictions. Leash reactivity is a very situation-specific behavior. Some dogs can be highly leash-reactive, but friendly and playful with other dogs off-leash.
Do not punish. Punishment won't help and, in fact, will make the problem worse. If the reactivity is motivated by fear, punishment will make your dog more fearful, and could lead to aggression.
A reactive dog is usually a fearful dog. Causes can be genetic, but they are more likely due to a lack of socialization, prior bad experiences or a lack of training. Aggressive dogs show similar signs but are determined to cause harm and destruction.
If the dog is afraid of other dogs, letting him look away and then move away from the other dog is the best reinforcement for most dogs. You can start this by teaching an Autowatch, or by waiting for him to look away himself, and reinforce it with food, play and/or an increase in distance between the dogs.
It may seem like just a bad behavior, but leash biting is often a symptom of a dog being frustrated or not fully understanding leash walking. It's especially common amongst young, playful, and excitable dogs, but with training, it can be prevented or eliminated.
When your dog looks at the trigger, ask for the replacement behavior. Shower them with treats when they obey. Finally, ask for the new behavior while slowly moving closer and closer to the trigger. If your dog reverts to lunging, you've moved too far, too fast.
Sometimes known as leash aggression, lead frustration is when your dog becomes agitated when put on a lead, or when they are feeling restricted. The way you help your dog with this will depend on why your dog is frustrated, and what they are directing that frustration at.
Your dog's behavior may not have anything to do with the other dog at all. It could be all about you. Some dogs are more protective and possessive of their humans than others and simply do not want another pup coming in between you. This is common in dogs that are overly coddled and have a lack of leadership at home.
Tugging on the leash or keeping it too taut will only make a reactive dog feel more trapped. Creating a safe distance and using barriers are much more effective. Do not overload your dog. If your reactive dog is exposed to too many triggers in too short a period, they will likely feel overwhelmed and react.