Have you ever wondered why some dog training dogs have such a difficult time following simple commands such as ‘sit’ and ‘stay’? Some owners are convinced that the dog’s inability to obey these commands is somehow the dog’s fault. It must be their fault somehow, they reason, because they never taught their dog how to behave properly. This is definitely not the case, however. Here are some of the most common reasons why your dog may have poor leash reactivity.
The first possible cause of poor leash reactivity may be that your dog wasn’t trained in obedience training. The reasons for this are endless, but in most cases experts believe that leash reactivity stems from a lack of training. Essentially, dogs basically check each other out in an arched, curving pattern by approaching each other in a similar circular orbit. If they were formally trained, they would simply move in tandem, without any form of command or stimulus.
There are many different reasons that this kind of leash reactivity may occur. Some of the most common include old age, lack of training, obesity, lack of exercise, and/or flea/tick infestation. If you suspect that your dog has any of these problems then it is important that you take them to see a veterinarian (or a behavior consultant if you have one) right away. A veterinarian will be able to run a full health test on your dog and determine if there are indeed physical problems causing the dog’s poor behavior. If the vet diagnoses something like flea or tick infestation, then they will be able to provide medication to rid your dog of these pesky parasites. If nothing else can be done, the veterinarian may recommend a thorough examination and treatment using the most modern methods for Lyme disease and/or arthritis.
Leash reactivity can also occur when your dog is being used to walk around with a dog leash. Over time, the leash’s ends may become nicked or cut which can cause the dog to pull on the leash in an attempt to repair the damage. Because of this, your dog feels like they have to constantly pull on the leash because the pain and discomfort are unbearable. They may become so sensitive to the pull that they start to tear at their own skin or the rope around their wrists. At this point it may be wise to seek professional help.
While all of these dog training problems can cause dog leash reactivity, the most common cause is simply another dog. You know, the other dog that is always pulling you around the neighborhood. Whenever another dog appears on your territory, your dog will either snap growl, or otherwise show signs of irritation to try to reclaim his space. Sometimes this is only temporary and the two dogs simply learn to cooperate and no further action is taken. However, if this continues for longer than a couple of days, then it is likely that your dog has developed a more serious problem.
One common sign of dog leash reactivity is when your dog pulls whenever another dog appears on his or her territory. Other times he may not even have any prior knowledge that another dog is there, but will continue to pull as if he had recognized the presence of another dog long before the dog had entered the scene. When he doesn’t recognize another dog, this is often seen as aggressive behavior towards another dog and may be indicative of other behavioral issues such as aggression toward humans or rejection of human companionship. While it is very easy to blame your dog for reacting in this way, the fact is that he is just demonstrating his natural tendencies to act in response to a trigger that has previously triggered aggressive behavior in him.
The first thing you want to do when you notice the dog reactivity in training is to make sure that whatever caused your dog to snap is actually out of your control. If you’ve been having difficulty with your dogs play dates, perhaps he is tired or frustrated at being a part of the group. Perhaps you are taking him on special training retreats where he feels uncomfortable, shut down or unable to perform. Correcting the underlying issues will help your dog overcome his problem and prevent future occurrences.
Of course, even if the underlying issue is beyond your control, you can still work towards positive behavioral changes through positive reinforcement training. By paying close attention to your dog’s reactions and rewarding him or her when they are on target, you can teach him or her to better understand your goals and expectations. This kind of positive reinforcement training can be very helpful in the context of leash training as well. You can use positive training techniques on the leash without ever having to leave your home, saving you hundreds of dollars and valuable time. It is a proven and highly effective long-run investment in your dog’s and dog owners’ relationship which will save you time, money and energy in the long run.
