So, you think you might have a leash reactive dog? It's important to understand that reactivity doesn't necessarily translate to aggression. At its core, reactivity means a "responsiveness to stimulus." In your dog's case, that stimulus might be a person, a dog, a car – you name it.
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.
Reactivity is not aggression, but can escalate. Resource guarding may involve protection of people, toys, beds, or food. Animal behaviorists can help address the issues that cause aggression.
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 aggression, also known as leash reactivity, is an undesirable behavioral problem in dogs that causes aggressive, excitable behavior in leashed dogs, including barking, lunging, growling, snarling, pulling and jumping.
Types of dog aggression include:
Fear Aggression. Territorial Aggression. Idiopathic Aggression.
According to Rhonda, there are two primary motivations that cause leash aggression or leash reactivity: frustration and fear. Frustration occurs when the dog is restrained in some way, whether it is a leash or a barrier such as a fence.
What causes leash reactivity in a given dog can vary. Common issues include prey drive, traumatic experiences and simple frustration. Many pet owners assume their dog has been abused or neglected prior to adoption, but this accounts for only a small fraction of leash-reactive behavior.
Reactivity and inappropriate behavior become the norm, not the exception. Leash reactivity is common in dogs and is seen in more than 50 percent of dogs on leash.
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.
Reactive aggression is commonly defined as a response to social threat, provocation, or frustration, and is strongly associated with anger [2, 3]. Since increased reactive aggression is found in various mental disorders, it might be better regarded and explained as a transdiagnostic phenomenon.
An example of reactive aggression would be a teen punching a peer after the peer made fun of or teased him or her. These subtypes of aggression appear to be best explained by different theories, and there is growing evidence suggesting unique developmental correlates of these aggression subtypes.
Leash aggression in dogs is very common, but fortunately, you can teach your dog a better way. Nothing can ruin an otherwise pleasurable walk with your dog like their sudden, often unpredictable fear and aggression, especially when meeting other dogs along the way.
Turn to Treats to Distract. In the meantime, start decreasing your dog's frustration when he's on leash and spies another dog by removing the tension from your leash. To do that, you're going to teach your dog that when he sees another dog, he'll be rewarded for looking at you.
Of course, it is not your dog's fault. They are acting in response to an emotion – that might be fear, anxiety or frustration – and, when they react, that can make them feel better in the moment so they keep doing it. But we can teach them a better way to respond that also feels good.
Hold your dog on a loose leash; a tight leash can heighten reactivity. Treat your dog when he walks next to you; if he pulls on the leash or crosses in front of you, stop walking. Use a treat to lure him back to your side. Walk toward the other dog at an angle or perpendicular to the other dog, rather than head on.
Walk both dogs in the same direction on opposite sides of a wide street. For dog-reactive dogs, you'll need more space than with dog-selective dogs. Sometimes, it's easiest to have the dog-reactive dog in back so she can keep her eyes on the new dog. Reward the dogs with treats whenever they look at each other calmly.
If your dog does react, calmly say “nope,” block them for a moment with your body, then turn and walk away from the other dog. This creates distance between your dog and the other dog and should help to calm your pup. Try to stay as relaxed as possible when you see a dog or if your dog lunges.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If a dog exhibits a reactive behavior (lunging, barking, growling) during a walk, the owner should immediately turn and briskly walk or jog out of the situation. The owner should be firm and calm and not yell, scold, give a leash correction, or punish the dog.