LEASH REACTIVITY & HOW TO STOP IT
We have a very clear idea of what walking our dogs should look like.
We have this mental image of casually strolling with our dog next to us; with a nice loose leash that's only there for the show, because it doesn't really serve a purpose. The people we meet smile at us and tell themselves what a well-behaved dog he is!
There is no pressure on the leash , as our dog wants to stay next to us , he walks at our pace and periodically looks at us with a happy look on his face.
… At least that's what it looks like in all the books and on videos - and we think our dogs should know how to do this ...
But, what we often have instead is a dog getting excited before even leaving the house, barking and jumping - he rushes out the front door, pulling on a leash all the time, he doesn't. not respond to our cry to stop - it's like he totally forgot that we exist!
When he sees a car, or another person, he barks and tries to jump ; when he sees another dog his barking gets worse and as the dog gets closer he growls and rushes at anything that moves - he becomes uncontrollable at the end of his leash!
You are so stressed out trying to control it, you feel so tired with this daily routine it is no longer fun and you are wondering WHY you got your dog in the first place!?! ( Remember : It is also stressful for your dog ..)
Is this your reality? It doesn't have to be like this! ...
You CAN have a dog who walks calmly beside you; who looks at you with adoration; who obeys you…. BUT .. your dog is not born knowing how to behave around you, you have to show it to him.
All of this is possible - with games, to prepare him to know what better behaviors he can choose instead.
WHY CAN DOGS BE REACTIVE ON A LEASH?
A high level of AROUSAL
Almost all canine struggles will happen when your dog's arousal level increases, or is already too high . This also applies if your dog is fearful on walks; or he is frustrated and excited to be outside.
This results in a high level of arousal which makes your dog no longer able to hear what you are saying; to become frustrated because his internal reward system tells him go chase that cat, or the squirrel!
Your dog's arousal level can begin to increase even BEFORE you start to prepare for the walk!
Your dog predicts ...
Do you always walk at the same time every day ? Do you always do the same things every day before going for a walk? Or even during the walk?
When you have a set routine , your dog PREDICTS that certain actions you take are going to lead to a certain event and he will start to become either excited or fearful, depending on his personality and what the environment has to offer him.
By the time you leave the home environment, your dog is already starting to get out of hand.
A restrictive leash and / or collar / harness
Being on a leash is very restrictive for a dog because he is unable to escape an event that worries him. This stresses him out and he continually monitors the environment for any sign of possible "danger."
If he finds himself in a worrying situation, he will probably react negatively to this situation, in order to:
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scare off the disturbing thing and tell it to stay away;
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get a release from the tension pressure that builds up, which will only temporarily relieve the stress.
However, proper walking on a leash is imperative for your dog to learn to behave properly outside the family home; if you want your dog to adapt to life in a human environment; and if you want to live together pressure-free.
5 TIPS FOR STOPPING REACTIVITY ON A LEASH
TIP NO.1 - MANAGEMENT
Make sure the equipment you use to walk your dog is comfortable and functional for your dog:
Leash:
A long leash (> = 3m) with 2 contact points is necessary.
A 2-point contact leash clipped onto a harness with two two contact points, makes it easier for you to control your dog's movements - giving your dog a better understanding of what you want them to do.
Harness:
Always make sure that the harness does not block your dog's movements, especially in his shoulder blades, which is an area that can cause pain to your dog when he walks - if it is restricted by a harness.
I believe the best type of harness to use, is a "Y" or "X" shaped harness with two rings - one in the front and one in the back. When used with the 2-point leash, it conveys to your dog what you want them to do, without any pain or stress.
Collar:
NEVER use an electric collar; a choke chain or a prong collar ! These are items that are, for most of the time, misused by people who often mistakenly believe that this will solve their dog's problems.
These items are not only cruel, but they can be extremely painful and can physically damage parts of your dog's body.
When you use these items, they can eat away at your dog's optimism and confidence and also destroy his confidence in YOU!
I find that a flat collar is generally the best for most dogs, but it depends on your dog's physical build, as some dogs (especially herding breeds) don't always have a clearly defined neck. In that case, maybe a Martingale collar could be better suited for your dog. Observe your dog and decide what is best for him.
TIP NO.2 - CALM
Cultivate more CALM in your daily life with your dog. This is a necessity especially if you have a responsive dog, or a multi-dog household.
All dogs need some calm to regain their physical and cognitive strength - life should NOT be lived 200 kilometers an hour!
TIP NO.3 - Inspire your dog with OPTIMISM games
Games that inspire confidence and optimism should be used in conjunction with the concept of CALM.
OPTIMISM is a must in the life of every dog and must be continually renewed throughout their life.
For example : If your dog is afraid of noises, play Bottle Games or Cardboard Chaos (which is very popular with many dogs!).
This builds your dog's confidence as these games make noises that your dog himself activates. Be creative in the way you play with your dog - and always watch him!
TIP NO.4 - Changing the Routine
To prevent your dog from PREDICTING, change the order or routine of events that could trigger his prediction and therefore increase his arousal level. This should be done in the home environment as well as on walks.
As far as possible and as far as your daily commitments allow, change the place of walking with your dog regularly; change the time; change the way you get to these places (by car or on foot?).
Remember to take low value food and / or toys with you; and high value food / toys.
Change high value rewards regularly to reward your dog with what you want to play or teach him. That is, hide food - take a special bag; retrieve - take a special food bag, or a toy that you use for your dog to retrieve; take a whistle to teach a recall , etc.
TIP NO.5 - Choose the Games !!
Download the following two forms which show you the games; concepts related to games; and the type of struggles associated with these games and concepts.
FORM-Foundation and Optimism Games
EBOOK - Walking on lead / off lead