Leash reactivity: why it happens and what changes

Many dogs that lunge, bark and pull at other dogs on a walk are perfectly calm off leash, at home or at daycare. Owners often find that confusing. The leash itself is part of the reason.

On a leash, a dog can’t do what it would naturally do: move away from something worrying, or go and greet something exciting. Some dogs are frustrated, some are nervous, and some have simply practiced barking at other dogs for so long that it has become a habit. Each time the dog reacts and the other dog moves on, the dog learns that reacting "worked".

Reactivity also tends to grow. A dog that barked at dogs across the street starts barking at cars, joggers or skateboards, and the walk gets shorter and later in the evening until you dread it.

What training changes is the dog’s response, and your confidence. Families tell me about walking calmly past other dogs, sitting on a restaurant patio, and going back to the park they had given up on. Graduates keep practicing at my Saturday group class in Scripps Ranch, which is set up for exactly this: walking near other dogs with a trainer right there.

Every reactive dog is different, so I start with a free in-home evaluation to work out what is behind your dog’s reactions and what to expect.