10 Practical Tips for Managing Your Leash Reactive Dog

We all want our dog walks to be peaceful, but that’s not always possible with a leash-reactive dog. A lot of growling, barking, lunging, and pulling can turn a walk into a hassle. 

Leash reactivity in dogs is an extreme reaction to a trigger or stimulus, such as a human, another dog, an animal, a car, or a certain situation. It can be extreme excitement or an aggressive response. In any case, leash reactivity is a problem many dog owners have to deal with. But there are ways you can help your dog ignore stimulants. In this article, we’ll talk about how you can manage leash-reactive pooches and actually enjoy walking them. 

How to Train Your Leash Reactive Dog

Training for leash reactivity in dogs goes beyond regular leash training. It involves bringing your four-legged friend face to face with whatever is triggering it. Start with a safe distance. When your dog notices the trigger, ask it to look at you instead of focusing on the stimulant. Reward Fido with a treat each time it shifts its attention toward you.

Continue your leash reactive dog training by walking a little closer to the stimulant. If your dog gets reactive, shift its attention or go behind a barrier to block its view. Do this until your dog doesn’t react at all to whatever is triggering it. Keep in mind that this is a process and requires time and patience, so give Fido all the time you can. 

10 Techniques for Managing Leash Reactivity on Walks

1. Try Not to Come Face to Face with Other Dogs

Dogs greet each other sideways and by smelling each other’s genitalia. In their world, meeting head-on or making direct eye contact often means that a fight is about to start. With that in mind, try your best to avoid the face-to-face meetup. Your leash-reactive dog will be less triggered when walking behind or by the side of another dog. 

2. Understand the Root Cause

What exactly is triggering your furry friend? Is it another dog, a cat, a squirrel, or a passing car or cyclist? It can even be a particular smell. These can induce fear, frustration, or even excitement in your leash-reactive dog, which, in turn, translate into barks, growls, pulls, and lunges. Finding the root cause will help you take measures accordingly. 

3. Don’t Wait for Your Dog to React

Get a treat ready when you see a trigger approaching. As soon as your dog notices what’s coming its way, call its name and give it a treat. This way, your dog will associate the trigger with a happier thought. You’ll notice that Fido’s being less reactive time after time, all because you gave the treat before your dog even got to react. 

4. Avoid the Trigger if Possible

Then, of course, there’s always the option of avoiding triggers in the first place. As your dog’s human, you can decide where to walk, and you can easily avoid leash reactivity in dogs if you choose a path with fewer triggers. If too many dogs walk in the same park as you, find a less crowded one. If cyclists are everywhere, choose a calmer street. It’s all about making sure Fido has a peaceful place to walk. 

5. Redirect with Commands

Teaching your four-legged friend commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “heel” early on can go a long way when dealing with leash aggression.

Redirecting their attention from a trigger toward a command they know so well can be a game-changer. Soon enough, your dog will focus on your commands and not on the stimulant walking around the corner.

6. Keep Yourself Calm and Take Deep Breaths

Your behavior when your dog is reactive on leash can play a major role in how Fido deals with the situation. Dogs easily pick out our emotions. Try staying calm instead of pulling your dog back. This will tell your dog that the situation is not dangerous or anything and that it can relax just like you. 

7. Use a Front Clip Harness or Head Halter

Of all types of dog leashes, a front clip harness and a head halter are the best for leash-reactive dogs. This is because they can help control a pulling dog, which is a reaction most dogs have when triggered. Completely avoid using choke chains or prong collars with leash-reactive dogs, as these can make the situation even worse. 

8. Be Consistent with Training

Dealing with leash reactivity in dogs is less about knowing how to train a reactive dog on a leash and more about being consistent with the training. One or two sessions are never enough. You’ll want to repeat the training over and over and give away treats until your canine companion completely overcomes the trigger. In other words, don’t stop until Fido is completely okay with passing by its stimulant. 

9. Prioritize Physical and Mental Exercises

A well-planned dog exercise routine is key to good health. But did you know that it can also reduce the amount of pent-up energy your dog might have? More energy spent on mental and physical exercises means less energy to spend on reacting to triggers. So, make sure your dog gets plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation through play, training, and puzzle toys. The result is a fit, smart, and well-behaved dog.

10. Work with a Professional 

When all else fails and you’re running out of patience, you can always talk to a professional. A trainer, particularly one who has experience in leash reactivity, can help you come up with a personalized plan for your dog’s unique reactivity problems. Keep in mind that the solution is always there and sometimes, you just need a pro to help you find it. 

What to Do When Walks Don’t Go as Planned

Some walks will be peaceful and some won’t, and that’s just something people with leash-aggressive dogs have to come to terms with. Yes, your dog's behavior can improve drastically with enough training, but what if things don’t go as expected on your daily walk? Well, there are a few simple measures you can take to handle the situation. 

One trick you can try is the quick U-turn method. To put it simply, as soon as you find yourself in front of a trigger, you’ll need to turn around quickly and move in the opposite direction. Pair the U-turn with a few treats and everything should go smoothly. 

Another effective method is to hide behind a visual barrier. This can be a wall, a parked car, or just about anything that would keep your dog from being able to see the stimulant, be it a pigeon, a cat, or another dog. 

You can also try dropping a few treats on the floor and asking your furry friend to find them. All the sniffing and eating will be a good discretion and will calm it down.

Conclusion

Yes, leash-reactivity in dogs isn’t the easiest to deal with. But it shouldn’t be a lifelong problem. With a few simple tricks and a good amount of training, you can reverse the issue and get rid of it for good. Just keep in mind that your dog is not being reactive for the sake of it, but is probably afraid or overly excited and doesn’t know what to do about it. Give Fido time, teach it, and don’t react negatively when it’s being reactive on a leash. Before you know it, you’ll notice changes you thought you’d never see, and you’ll get to enjoy peaceful walks with your doggo soon enough. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can leash reactivity be cured?

Leash reactivity in dogs is not a disease, so it can’t be cured in that sense. That being said, you can reverse the issue with the right training steps. Even dogs who do not completely get over their fear or excitement can still learn to remain calm when they come across their triggers. 

What are the most common triggers that cause leash reactivity in dogs?

The most common triggers that cause leash reactivity in dogs are other dogs. Smaller animals such as squirrels, birds, and cats can trigger their curiosity, too. Strangers—especially those who approach in a somewhat sudden way—can also cause fear in dogs, and so do fast-moving objects, like cars, bicycles, and skateboards. Sometimes, what triggers a dog can be a situation instead of a thing. One example is a uniformed delivery driver. Also, being in overcrowded and noisy areas may stress a dog out, causing excessive leash reactivity. 

How long does it usually take to see progress with leash reactivity training?

With the correct approach and amount of training, a leash-reactive dog can get over its fear and excitement of a certain trigger. In some cases, this process can be over in just a couple of weeks, but sometimes, it can take a few months. This depends on how reactive your dog is as well as how consistent you are with the whole training regimen. Progress also has to do with your dog’s age, personality, and responsiveness to the training.