Walking a dog that lunges and behaves menacingly on leash is not a pleasant experience, but what exactly is leash aggression, and what can be done about it?
It’s a nice, spring day. You and your dog are enjoying a lovely walk together, when suddenly her hackles go up and she starts growling, lunging, and barking at another dog she sees across the street.
The other dog stops to look at what the commotion is all about and your dog becomes even more uncomfortable, lunging and barking even more as you hang on. You want to curl up in embarrassment while you try to pull your dog away as quickly as you can, and even though she calms down when you move her to a safer distance, you are both stressed and tense from the experience.
This is what people usually feel when their dogs behave aggressively on the lead and unfortunately, it is a very common behavior.
Another term used for aggressive behavior on the leash is leash reactivity, although leash reactivity also refers to dogs that become excitable and/or frustrated on leash because the leash prevents them from saying hello to the person or other dog walking by. This page will just focus on why dogs become aggressive on leash and what can be done about it.
Why do some dogs act aggressively while on a leash?
A dog may become frustrated or uncomfortable in a social situation while attached to a leash because the leash prevents dogs from naturally greeting each other or putting sufficient distance between themselves and a source of fear.
Walking a dog that barks and lunges at people or other dogs can be dangerous, embarrassing, and unpleasant. Just anticipating an outburst is stressful for guardians, which may also influence a dog’s behavior. It’s a situation that causes a lot of anxiety and frustration for both ends of the leash.
Fortunately, there are techniques to help you manage stressful situations so that leash walks become more enjoyable. Depending on the severity of the behavior, it is advisable to work with a professional positive dog trainer as this behavior can be difficult to change.
How can I stop my dog from behaving aggressively on the leash?
You can teach your dog important coping skills so that she does not feel the need to use aggressive displays when she feels uncomfortable. Moving her away from the scary thing by teaching an Emergency U-Turn is a great skill to practice while you work to desensitize your dog to the perceived threat.
Remember that your dog is not being nasty, dominant, or naughty - she is just doing what she needs to do in order to feel safe. Think of you and your dog as a team that needs to help each other feel safe, so you can have calm, quiet and stress-free walks together in the future.
By using positive reinforcement techniques, you can actually change the way your dog feels about a certain situation for the better. This in turn changes her emotional and behavioral responses. A professional dog trainer can help you practice techniques to keep yourself and your dog safe at all times.
Practice coping skills
Start by teaching your dog an Emergency U-Turn in combination with a fun game. Start practicing inside the house, in the back yard or garden or anywhere she feels safe and protected. Teach her these skills first in a place where she feels calm, and slowly build up to the real thing. This might take a few days to weeks, but go at your dog’s pace.
For example, when your dog sees another dog in the distance and is curious but not yet uncomfortable, bring out her favorite toy and play with her, or play the “go find it” game with high-value treats. The toys or food you use have to be of high value and should only be used when teaching this skill. These high value motivators will help your dog focus when she is in sight of another dog or the thing she is threatened by, and the pleasure she gets playing or eating will change the way she feels about that threat’s presence. Over time, she will begin to associate the sight of another dog or other perceived threat with positive things that make her feel good. This is the key to changing the way your dog feels.
Desensitizing your dog to a perceived threat, such as an approaching dog, will take a period of time. Every dog is different and it is important to go at your dog’s pace.
Take it slowly
When your dog is ready to learn to feel more comfortable with other dogs passing by, start by having a friend or trainer bring their calm, non-reactive dog to help you.
- Begin the training by having them stand at a distance where your dog is comfortable and can focus on other things.
- While the other dog remains at a distance, play a game your dog enjoys. For example, give her a favorite toy or play the “go find it” game. Remember to play or do something that your dog already knows, is good at, and loves doing.
- If your dog shows no signs of discomfort, ask your helper to bring their dog a little closer.
- Continue to play or feed your dog and give plenty of praise.
- If at any time your dog reacts negatively, simply turn around and walk away from the situation until she calms down enough to play again or accept food.
- If your dog is reacting negatively, you have decreased the distance too quickly. Move the helper dog back to a distance where your dog can relax and repeat the process.
Take this process in stages over time. If you force your dog to come too close, too soon, the process could backfire and undo the progress.
Don’t rush dog-to-dog greetings
Dogs who display aggressive behaviors on leash need patience, consistent practice, and time to learn new patterns of behavior before they can feel relaxed and calm on a walk. The exact time frame will vary, of course, depending on your dog’s history and level of discomfort. Training your dog to allow a dog-to-dog greeting is best done with a professional dog trainer to help guide you.
- When you get to the point where you can walk past other dogs with no reaction at all, your dog might be ready to experience her first greeting.
- Do not allow unconfident dogs to greet face to face to begin with, as it can be too much pressure. A better choice is to practice following the other dog or walking parallel with each other until both dogs are comfortable.
- If your dog is relaxed, then you can both walk in an arc towards each other, have your dogs greet for a few seconds face to face and then happily draw them away from each other, rewarding them for making this huge step.
- When it is appropriate, try going for regular walks with your dog’s new friend and begin adding other dogs to the mix until you can get a regular walking group together.
- Simply experiencing the joys of a walk with other dogs will help your dog feel more comfortable around them.
Keep it positive!
Do not punish a dog that lunges on the leash for any reason. Punishment harms and takes away your dog’s trust in you. Give your dog space from the threat instead and teach her something else to do in that moment. This will create a positive association with the situation and make learning easier.
Find a qualified positive dog trainer and behavior specialist who can help you.
