If you have a social, yet frustrated dog, simply turn and walk him away from the source until he is calm and only allow him to greet when the leash is loose. Do not punish a dog that lunges on the leash for any reason, especially if the cause of the behavior is insecurity, which is the case for most dogs.
To help reduce your dog's excitement when they see their leash, snap it on their collar for 10 minutes each day and let them drag it around at home. Take your dog out the door as if going for a walk, and if they begin to pull, turn around and head back inside. Repeat this until your dog can leave the house calmly.
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.
The time it takes for your dog to be trained not pull on the leash will vary. However, for most dog parents, working 5-10 minutes a day for 5-7 days will get them results.
If your dog pulls, there are two options: Stop immediately and don't move until your pup lets up and there is slack in the leash. You may have to stop again three seconds later and do the same thing and that's okay. Just be consistent about refusing to let them pull.
If the dog is afraid of other dogs or of people, the inability to utilize the option of flight may cause them to choose fight instead, leading to aggression towards the object of fear. Occasionally the aggression is triggered or exacerbated by illness or injury making the dog feel vulnerable and afraid.
Reactivity can look like aggression, but many leash-reactive dogs are dealing with anxiety or fear, and they use the explosive displays in an attempt to keep away from the stimulus. It's a defensive strategy used by fearful dogs to prevent further confrontations.
Like most aggressive responses, leash aggression is usually rooted in a dog's fear of a person, place or thing. To manage the behavior, you must first identify what is causing the fear, and then work to desensitize the dog to that fear by utilizing positive training methods.
Start walking at a distance from other dogs.
You might begin by walking at a distance around a dog park where your pooch can see other dogs from afar. Use your clicker and high-value treats to bring their attention back to you when you notice them getting distracted by the other dog's in the distance.
Territorial Barking
Often this happens when someone comes to the front door or merely just walks by. Usually, this means that your dog views them as a potential threat.
So how do we treat leash reactivity? In order to curb the reactions we have to treat the underlying cause of the symptom. Through proper management, counterconditioning and desensitization we can begin to rewire the dog's negative emotional associations into positive emotional associations.
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.
Some dogs bark and lunge at things because they are terribly bored, under-exercised, and under-trained. Many of these leash reactive dogs can be “cured” by simply increasing their exercise routine and giving them more to do every day.
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.
In most cases, the best way to get a reactive dog ready for socializing is to slowly expose them to their triggers in a controlled environment and reward them with natural dog treats until they no longer react so strongly.
Sadly, they do not. The only way to counter reactivity is through consistent and positive training. You should never punish a dog for reactivity or it will only become worse. Especially if you own a young dog who suddenly shows reactive behavior, you should see professional help.
Make sure you have fun!
To do this, whenever your dog walks on the leash without pulling, reward them every few paces with tasty treats and continue walking. If your dog starts to pull, stand still temporarily so they learn this behaviour means no walkies, and don't continue until they return to your side!
Although some dogs like to run free more than others, all dogs need to be trained so they will respond when they are off leash. Even if your dog is more like your shadow than an adventuring escape artist, there are always occasions when your dog might be outdoors off-leash.
If you don't want to be dragged around by your dog, don't drag your dog around. Your dog is neither a marionette nor a fish on the end of a line. You should not use your leash to hold your dog close to you or drag your dog where you want them to go.