When training a leash-reactive/aggressive dog, the first consideration I have is that everyone from the owner, the dog, and other dogs is always safe. If you have never experienced a dog fight, they can be chaotic and terribly frightening for people. So, my first rule is that the dog being trained will be kept under their threshold of excitement.
With that in mind, many owners are surprised when I tell them that we are not going to be walking the dog until a few criteria are met. Step one is to take the dog where you will see other dogs, but you have a decent amount of space between them and you, and there is no worry about another dog getting terribly close to you. With the threshold for excitement kept very low, your dog should be able to voluntarily check in with you and lock eyes with you for as many seconds as possible. They should also be able to accept a treat from you and not be so distracted that they do not have an interest in taking treats. If your dog can do neither, they certainly are not ready to go for a walk, where distractions increase and where they might be given the chance to practice the bad behavior you are trying to fix.
If your dog is checking in and taking treats, a very effective way to change how they feel about seeing other dogs is to feed them something so fantastic that they do not want to fire off or lunge. This may take time, but is a vital step in managing a reactive dog on walks. Starting from a safe distance, have about 30 to 45 seconds’ worth of something like chicken or bits of meat in your hand and be ready to feed it to your dog the very second they see another dog. So the second they see the other dog, you are going to simply start feeding them one piece of food after another until the dog disappears from their view. When the dog is gone, stop feeding them. When you are doing this with your dog, there should be zero behavior expectations. So don’t ask them to sit or look at you, but instead, remain perfectly silent and calm and try to get as many pieces of food into their mouth as possible. I like to do this exercise in a parking lot where you most likely see other dogs and have a decent amount of space between you and them. Also, try to do this for five to six dog appearances, then quit and leave.
The next time you try this exercise, repeat all of the safety steps such as maintaining a safe distance from dogs and keeping calm. This time, instead of feeding your dog the very second they see another dog, count to three and see if your dog will do an automatic check-in, looking for a tasty treat from you instead of being reactive. If they do, reward them with a jackpot of several treats and make a huge fuss of this check-in. If they don’t, simply repeat the first step until they do. Sometimes progress with a reactive dog is very slow, as it takes time to rewire a behavior that they have been practicing. I promise it will pay off if you stick with it.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
