3 Easy Tips to Help Improve Your Dog’s Reactivity Toward Other Dogs
Does your dog get overly excited or anxious when encountering other dogs? Are walks and outings a stressful experience due to their reactive behavior? You’re not alone! Many pet owners struggle with dog-to-dog reactivity, but luckily there are simple tips and techniques that can help improve your furry friend’s behavior. In this blog post, I’ll share three easy tips to assist in reducing your dog’s reactivity towards other pups and make walkies an enjoyable experience for both you and your four-legged companion.
If you’re a pet parent, like me, to an anxious, reactive dog, you know the daily challenges that come with it. There is a stigma that comes with owning a reactive dog, and truth be told having a reactive dog is quite depressing at times. I know I have been in tears after being out with my reactive girl and from what my reactive dog clients tell me they have felt the same way.
Dogs with reactivity often struggle to control their impulses toward other dogs, leading to scary and potentially dangerous situations. However, it is worth noting that reactivity doesn’t always result in a seemingly aggressive outburst, a dog running away from other dogs is also displaying reactivity. But the good news is that dog-to-dog reactivity doesn’t have to be a lifelong issue. With some patience, dedication, and consistency, you can help your dog to better cope with other dogs.
In this article, I’ll discuss the underlying causes of canine reactivity, the signs to look out for, and how to effectively manage and address the problem. Reactive behaviors can often be a symptom of larger issues, such as fear or anxiety, so having knowledge of canine behavior is essential in combating the issue. I’ll also look at practical exercises and techniques to help control reactivity in your pup. If you’re a pet parent whose furry pal struggles with aggression toward other dogs, this guide is for you! With the help of these three easy tips, you can help your pup decrease his reactivity and, ultimately, increase his quality of life and the likelihood of better socialising with other dogs.
Understanding Reactivity
The first step in helping your dog understand and cope with canine reactivity is understanding what the root cause is. Reactivity can be caused by genetic predisposition, environmental factors, lack of socialisation or training, or a combination of these. It is worth noting that most dog-to-dog reactivity has an underlying cause based in Fear. It’s crucial for pet parents to recognize the triggers of their pup’s reactivity so it can be addressed properly. Learning how to identify an oncoming outburst before it happens is key in managing and curbing any potential danger caused by canine reactivity.
As a dog owner, it’s important to be able to recognise when your dog is about to react to another dog. This can help you prevent any potential fights or negative interactions between your dog and others. Here are some signs to look for that indicate your dog is about to react:
-Body language: If your dog’s body is tense and their hackles are raised, this is a sign that they are feeling threatened and are preparing to defend themselves.
-Barking: If your dog starts barking aggressively, this is a warning sign that they are uncomfortable in the situation and they are likely to choose to confront the other dog. Dogs that choose to attack do so because previous experience has shown them that trying to avoid the scary situation doesn’t work, the attack is designed to scare away the other dog.
-Growling: This is another sign to look out for, growling can indicate your dog is preparing to fight.
If you see any of these signs, it’s important to remove your dog from the situation as quickly as possible. You don’t want them to hurt another animal or cause a disturbance. If you can’t avoid other dogs altogether, try getting your dog used to a muzzle. This way you will be able to muzzle your dog when you’re out in public so they can’t bite anyone if they do happen to react.
Positive Reinforcement
Once you have a better understanding of the underlying causes behind your pup’s reactive behaviors, you can start taking proactive measures to help improve your pup’s reaction toward other dogs. With patience and consistency, it is possible to turn your dog’s negative reactions into positive ones. One of the best things you can do to help your dog with their reactivity is to provide them with positive experiences around other dogs. This means exposing them to good socialization opportunities from a young age and continuing to expose them to other dogs in positive ways throughout their life. Doing this regularly will help to prevent reactivity, however, it is worth mentioning that socialisation doesn’t mean allowing your pup to play with every dog they meet, instead concentrate on teaching your pup to greet other dogs politely and come away when asked.
Counterconditioning activities and desensitisation techniques will be beneficial in reinforcing positive interactions with other dogs and will teach your dog that the presence of other dogs means good things are about to happen and that most of those good things come from you.
If your dog starts to bark or act aggressively towards another dog, it’s important to intervene and redirect their attention away from the other animal. Focus on redirecting their energy to something more positive by engaging them in a different activity or if they are unable to respond to your efforts, increase the distance by walking away from the other dog and rewarding your dog for coming with you with a treat or two. Positive reinforcement is key in teaching appropriate behavior around other animals.
Counterconditioning activities and desensitisation techniques will be beneficial in reinforcing positive interactions with other dogs and will teach your dog that the presence of other dogs means good things are about to happen and that most of those good things come from you.
If your dog starts to bark or act aggressively towards another dog, it’s important to intervene and redirect their attention away from the other animal. Instead of punishing your pet, focus on redirecting their energy to something more positive by engaging them in a different activity or if they are unable to respond to your efforts, increase the distance by walking away from the other dog and rewarding your dog for coming with you with a treat or two. Positive reinforcement is key in teaching appropriate behavior around other animals.
Whenever your dog has a positive interaction with another dog, make sure to reinforce it with treats or praise. This will help them associate other dogs with something positive.
Be patient: It’s important to be patient when dealing with a dog that is reactive towards other dogs. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is fixing reactivity problems. Just take it one step at a time and eventually, you’ll get there!
Punishment doesn’t work
Punishing your dog for being reactive toward other dogs is unlikely to improve the situation. In fact, it could make things worse. Punishment can increase your dog’s anxiety and fear, which can lead to more aggressive behavior. Instead of punishing your dog, try using positive reinforcement to teach them the desired behaviour.
Finally, it’s important to always seek professional help if your pup’s reactivity persists or worsens. You can always contact me to have a chat about your dog’s reactivity and find out how I can help. I can help by assessing your dog and ensuring that the underlying issues causing the reactivity have been properly identified and addressed. With the help of a professional, like myself, you can better understand how best to manage your pup’s reactivity and together we can create an effective plan for positive reinforcement and behavioral modification.
With these three easy tips as your guide, you can successfully work on reducing your dog’s reactivity towards other dogs by recognizing triggers, providing positive reinforcements when needed, and avoiding punishing your dog for reacting you can make a great start to solving your dog’s reactivity issues. By giving your pup the tools he needs to stay calm in social situations, both you and your dog will be able to enjoy the outdoors together stress-free!
Want to learn more about how I can help you with your reactive dog? Book a free call today.
Let me know what your main struggles are with your reactive dog by commenting below.