As a dog trainer, I often get asked how to support reactive dogs when they encounter their triggers. If you’re the owner of a sensitive or reactive dog, you’re likely familiar with the challenges that come with navigating these situations. Let’s dive into how you can support your dog, using my own experience with Kip, a lovely girl who makes it known (in no uncertain terms!) that she doesn’t appreciate unexpected encounters with rambunctious dogs.

Understanding Reactivity

Dogs that bark and lunge at other dogs are often experiencing some level of fear, anxiety, or frustration. Kip can be quite worried about big, “out-of-control” dogs, and her go-to behaviour is to bark and lunge to make them go away. While this behaviour effectively keeps her away from what she perceives as a threat, it’s not a behaviour that I like to see! It’s our job as trainers and owners to teach our dogs how to communicate their needs in more appropriate ways.

The Power of Pausing

Watch your dog watch things! What do they do before deciding to disengage? What do they do before deciding to move forward and approach something? If you look carefully, you might see that your dog pauses slightly when they notice something that grabs their attention. 

When we’re out for a walk and Kip spots those off-leash dogs, she pauses. I pause with her! This is crucial—if I kept moving forward, she would follow me, and I might inadvertently push her into a situation she’s not ready for. Stopping allows me to assess her comfort level and decide the best course of action.

Think about what the dog *actually* wants!

We can teach our dogs to look to us for guidance, instead of taking matters into their own hands.. Kip knows that she can look to me for support, and that she does not need to bark/charge at dogs to make them go away.

And how do I support her? Well, I consider what she would like in that situation: distance from the “threat”. So, I encourage her to give the dogs a wide berth. When Kip engages in appropriate and desirable behaviours (looking at me instead of shouting at the other dog), I can facilitate what she was after in the first place (space from the dog). Of course, we can pair distance with food and I do feed her for choosing to follow me.

Making Training Boring (In a Good Way!)

You might be thinking, “This sounds so simple! Why doesn’t it look more exciting?” Well, that’s the point! Effective reactivity rehab should look quite uneventful! Think about how you would ideally want your dog to look around their triggers (e.g., notice them and go back to what they were doing?), and then how you can manipulate the environment to make that behaviour likely. 

Conclusion

If you’re navigating the world with a reactive dog, remember that patience and consistency are key. By helping your dog learn how to communicate their needs in ways that do not involve barking and lunging, you can make walks more enjoyable for both of you.

Have questions or need further guidance? Don’t hesitate to reach out—I can help you make a plan!

Final Note

Supporting a reactive dog is a journey, and every small step forward is a victory. Let’s work together to create positive experiences for our sensitive companions!