If you clicked this, you’re probably wishing your dog had a few leash manners.
How to Fix Leash Aggression and Leash Reactivity
Most likely it started off with a little tugging, a little barking, a little excitement. He never really learned, but the collar or harness kept it from getting too bad.
Yet at some point, the dog started pulling like a freight train and going insane at every critter.
And if he sees another dog? Well that’s about your least favorite part of the day. Maybe he’d be fine if you lived in a monastery, but there are lots of dogs in your neighborhood.
So the walks became fewer and you tried to get him exercise in other ways. But now he’s chewing things and he seems to jump more and he barks at every car that comes past the window.
Sound familiar?
I can assure you this is very common (it’s one of the top reasons we get called), despite that mean neighbor who looks at you like you’re a criminal every time the dog barks.
This doesn’t mean the dog is irredeemably aggressive. But… It also won’t resolve on its own.
Dogs don’t come wired enjoying leashes, and it takes a bit of work to get them to play nicely. The sooner you start, the easier it will be to change the behavior. (This doesn’t mean you should give up if you have an older dog. For sure, you can teach an old dog new tricks.) It will take some time to get him where you want him, but there are tactics that can make your walk a lot less stressful almost immediately.
Training a Dog to Walk Nicely on Leash Without Pulling
Rule #1: The dog never gets to move forward while the leash is tense.
Rule #2: Teach the dog where you want him to be.
Rule #3: Practice first in a calm environment, then progress to distractions. Use alternate forms of exercise while training. A dog that’s out of control around other dogs is not socializing; he’s strengthening bad behaviors.
The most common questions we get:
Will the dog grow out of this bad leash behavior? Won’t he sense there’s no real threat?
Unfortunately, no. These types of behaviors are self-reinforcing. If not dealt with systematically they tend to get worse. That sounds intimidating, but once you’ve mastered the basic principles it goes pretty smoothly.
What should I do when the dog starts barking and going crazy?
We’ve got to get things to the point that you’re one step ahead of the dog. Once he’s exploding, there’s not a lot of learning going on. For the short-term, you need to create distance, and without hesitation. Indecision will make things worse. (When in doubt, give the dog distance from the trigger. This may not be the perfect choice for every situation, but it will never make things worse.)
But the time for action, the time for learning, is BEFORE the dog is out of control. I know this isn’t the most favorite answer, because it means we have to be proactive and we have to learn to read the dog. But this is something you can do, even if you’re not that experienced with dogs. Once you’ve learned to read the dog, you’ll be amazed at how much less stressful your walks are.
If you’re looking for help in the Fresno and Clovis area, feel free to contact us below. We have effective programs designed for this specific issue.