You're walking with the wind in your hair, your nostrils sniffing the fresh air, your brain in ecstasy for this day that promises to be magnificent when... Your arm becomes extremely tense, trying to stay in one piece: Fido has decided that going to see another dog is worth a visit to the chiro! Your first reaction is probably to give a violent jerk on the leash to try to calm your dog down. Your furry friend should eventually understand that destroying your shoulders like this is not a wise decision. However, despite you punishing your dog hundreds of times, his behavior does not seem to improve.

Why is my dog ​​reactive?

There are two reasons for reactivity in dogs: the canine individual is frustrated because he does not have access to a fellow dog that he would like as a play partner, or he is simply afraid of these four-legged beings.
Which causes the following behaviors:

1. Pulling on the leash
2. Moan
3. Yap
4. Jump
5. Making “play calls”
6. Growl
7. To have the hair on one's spine standing on end
8. Show calming signals

• Make yourself more interesting than distractions (other dogs) by trading attention for rewards, a favorite toy, or verbal encouragement. Generally, using food works best because it is simply easier to use and more motivating in many cases.
• Practice focus exercises . Teaching your dog to look at you is an alternative behavior that we will use to allow the animal to make a choice: look at his owner and get a reward OR mechanically pull on the leash and get nothing. Make sure that the motivator (reward) you use is strong enough to arouse his interest.
• Never let your dog come into contact with another dog when he pulls or reacts : he will then repeat these behaviors (jumping, pulling, barking) in order to be rewarded again (having access to the other dog).
• Go and practice these exercises when you come across other dogs on the street, and even around dog parks in order to practice scenarios. No behavioral modification is possible without regular practice.
• Do not punish your dog when he shows signs of anxiety, aggression or stress. Instead, encourage him to look at other dogs calmly by offering him tasty rewards to change his perception of other dogs: they will no longer evoke danger, worry or suffering, but the appearance of treats.
• Do not let your dog enter his reaction zone (work at a distance). It is better to move away from his source of fear and work on his reactivity at a greater distance.

My dog ​​is only reactive when on a leash

When your canine friend is free, his interactions with other dogs go wonderfully, but it's a different story when you're on the leash? Here are some possible explanations. A living being can use four solutions when it feels in danger:

1. Ignore the problem
2. Flee
3. Tackle

However, when he is on a leash, it is impossible for Fido to run away. Thus limited in his movements, it is possible that your pet will choose the last available options: growling, barking and jumping in the air with such exuberance that his "opponent" will flee. And, indeed, this solution seems very appropriate since the other dog goes in the opposite direction every time. However, the owner of the other dog only continues on his way, a small detail that Poilu understands differently!

Do not hit/jerk the leash

It is important not to rush your pet when you want to change its behavior. All the negative feelings you will create:

• Will increase his anxiety
• Increase the risk of redirected aggression
• Give him a negative perception of other dogs and the environment to which he is exposed

Typically, when we punish a dog, we wait until he has reached his threshold of reactivity. As stressed and anxious as he is, it is impossible for him to learn anything from this experience: physical correction is therefore useless. Punishment can also give a false sense of security. When it works, behaviors are simply inhibited and your dog's needs (that of feeling safe) are not respected. The dog who was corrected while growling or barking to show his discomfort could now bite without warning.

During the rehabilitation period, pay closer attention to your environment so as not to upset your animal:

• From what distance does it react?
• In which places does it react?
• Is his attitude the same during the day as at night?
• What type of dogs make him reactive?

When desensitizing your dog, don't hesitate to:

• To increase the distance with other dogs and to progress through small challenges
• To use a more powerful motivator: Hot dog sausage, cheese…
• Use suitable training tools: harness, halter, etc.
• To practice targeted exercises that will allow you to increase the value of your relationship and your dog's trust (clicker exercises, recall, walking on a relaxed leash, free play)

For a calm dog who is comfortable in his fur…

These tips can be applied to any behavioral problem related to reactivity, whether the cause of your dog's fears or frustrations is dogs, squirrels, or strangers. However, remember to respect your dog's pace, to correctly interpret the signals he gives you, to correctly reinforce the behaviors that you deem appropriate, and, above all, to progress through small challenges without being afraid to reduce your demands, only to increase them later!

Source: demaindemaitre.ca