Dog Aggression or Leash Reactivity?
When dogs greet in a natural setting (not in today’s urban living) they greet in a “C” shape curve or side by side to smell each other’s rear ends. They don’t go up to each other face-to-face and stare. This is considered rude and offensive behavior.
While it's safer (and it's the law, this is not to advocate for off leash dogs) for us to walk our dogs on leash, dogs can’t just go up and perform their normal greeting behavior due to the constraint of the leash. When a dog does see another dog from a distance, across the street, usually on a walk, it is normal for him to look over and see who it is. He can’t interact with the dog normally (such as smelling to get to know him, etc.). He can only SEE the other dog. The other dog may look at him, too. This can potentially create a staring situation across the street. This may cause your dog to feel insecure about the other dog. When he sees the other dog “staring” at him, he may see it as the rude, offensive staring behavior mentioned above. He pulls forward and feels the pull of the leash. He feels restrained from being able to approach. Frustration ensues, and after a number of times he begins to feel frustrated seeing other dogs while on a leash at a distance. This is what is called leash reactivity.
This can happen with any breed of dog, and it is common in today’s style of living. This is dog thing, not a breed thing. Also, this does not mean that your dog is necessarily dog-aggressive or less tolerant of other dogs, especially if your dog is fine playing with his select, properly-introduced friends off-leash.
The way to curb and/or prevent this behavior is to reinforce a different behavior. This means that you teach your dog to focus on something else instead of the dog over there. This can be a “sit” and “watch me” or you can also have your dog perform a down-stay and a look at you at the same time. Continuing to walk with your dog and having him look at you while passing the other dog is also very successful at keeping your dog from even locking into a stare-down with the other dog. Timing is key; don't even let your dog stare at the other dog at all. This eliminates the frustration before it can even begin. If you wait until he's already frustrated, lunging and pulling forward, he may not even hear you say, "look" or "watch me" at that point.
These distraction techniques will prevent frustration from building up while on-leash around other dogs. A good leash manners class can help you learn these very simple techniques. Then you can take these techniques outside the class and use them in life in many different situations.
Creating a positive environment where you are setting your dog up for success is very helpful and helps to set the tone for walks. It's also about you protecting your dog, not about him protecting you or himself. He's less likely to display distancing behaviors or barking and lunging behaviors when protected and there is some structure to keep him from practicing reacting to dogs while out and about.
This may also continue to be a management situation for you and your dog long term. But, you can learn to go out in public him, know where your dog might have sensitivities to other dogs and curb reactive type behaviors.
Marthina McClay
While it's safer (and it's the law, this is not to advocate for off leash dogs) for us to walk our dogs on leash, dogs can’t just go up and perform their normal greeting behavior due to the constraint of the leash. When a dog does see another dog from a distance, across the street, usually on a walk, it is normal for him to look over and see who it is. He can’t interact with the dog normally (such as smelling to get to know him, etc.). He can only SEE the other dog. The other dog may look at him, too. This can potentially create a staring situation across the street. This may cause your dog to feel insecure about the other dog. When he sees the other dog “staring” at him, he may see it as the rude, offensive staring behavior mentioned above. He pulls forward and feels the pull of the leash. He feels restrained from being able to approach. Frustration ensues, and after a number of times he begins to feel frustrated seeing other dogs while on a leash at a distance. This is what is called leash reactivity.
This can happen with any breed of dog, and it is common in today’s style of living. This is dog thing, not a breed thing. Also, this does not mean that your dog is necessarily dog-aggressive or less tolerant of other dogs, especially if your dog is fine playing with his select, properly-introduced friends off-leash.
The way to curb and/or prevent this behavior is to reinforce a different behavior. This means that you teach your dog to focus on something else instead of the dog over there. This can be a “sit” and “watch me” or you can also have your dog perform a down-stay and a look at you at the same time. Continuing to walk with your dog and having him look at you while passing the other dog is also very successful at keeping your dog from even locking into a stare-down with the other dog. Timing is key; don't even let your dog stare at the other dog at all. This eliminates the frustration before it can even begin. If you wait until he's already frustrated, lunging and pulling forward, he may not even hear you say, "look" or "watch me" at that point.
These distraction techniques will prevent frustration from building up while on-leash around other dogs. A good leash manners class can help you learn these very simple techniques. Then you can take these techniques outside the class and use them in life in many different situations.
Creating a positive environment where you are setting your dog up for success is very helpful and helps to set the tone for walks. It's also about you protecting your dog, not about him protecting you or himself. He's less likely to display distancing behaviors or barking and lunging behaviors when protected and there is some structure to keep him from practicing reacting to dogs while out and about.
This may also continue to be a management situation for you and your dog long term. But, you can learn to go out in public him, know where your dog might have sensitivities to other dogs and curb reactive type behaviors.
Marthina McClay
| aggressionvsreactivity.pdf |