How Does Dog Reactivity Start?

Leash reactivity, or leash aggression (same thing, the display of aggression should be treated as aggression, even if the dog has never bitten) is one of the most common calls I get is for dogs that are unruly on walks when they see other dogs, and often people, too. The causes usually come down to four big factors, and then a number of other influences in the dog's life.

The good news, is that once we have an idea of where the reactivity is coming from, our plan can take shape. I have a schedule I like to work within to address core, fundamental skills and issues, that works towards addressing the problem situations as the dogs and their owners progress.

Onto what leads to leash reactivity.

Genetics

This is the one thing that we have to work with, and around. The dog's own genetics are going to dictate how it behaves, and certain behavioral tendencies.

Some breeds are selected for traits that would lend themselves to reactive and aggressive displays. Shepherd Dogs, from German Shepherd Dogs, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, and Australian Shepherds, to name a few, are all more likely to be easily frustrated by unfamiliar dogs, as well as the presence of a barrier, which in this case is the leash.

Other dogs are born to be less confident and secure than others, and in turn, many will go into a display to ensure the other dog can't get to them if they can otherwise scare the dog off.

We could go on and on about the role of genetics in training and behavior, but that's a decent start.

Frustration and Insecurity

We touched on it a bit in the above paragraph, but a dog that hasn't reached its potential for confidence, and that has a bit more of a fight tendency when feeling defensive, is more likely to lash out and look more like Cujo than Fido.

Likewise, dogs that are easily frustrated can throw what amounts to a temper tantrum when they see other dogs and people. They're often dogs that have been at poorly run daycares, spent plenty of time in the dog park, and lack the obedience and structure to focus on their owners in a way that lets them know they don't need to blow their tops.

You may also see reactivity start in dogs that have been in a fight where they felt like they were jumped and now they're convinced every dog they see is a threat. I've worked with plenty of dogs that got into a fight and became reactive after.

This is especially important to remember that we're looking to address emotions and motivation to affect perception when training through problems.

I'm also a strong "No" on harnesses for dogs once they get to around 6 months. At that point, we start to layer in the leash on an appropriate collar. Pulling into the harness may stop your dog from choking themselves on the walk, but it builds frustration. Frustration leads to motivation, and motivation for the wrong things is a bad thing.

We definitely want to raise motivation, but in the right way, and for the right things. In an ideal world, dogs would see unfamiliar dogs and people as no more interesting than furniture.

Lack of Structure and Obedience

This is a harder one for people to grasp and implement, because it requires work. Many dogs are brought home, retired, and then given the keys to the castle. It is common that people want dogs to feel like it's their home as well. However, the dog doesn't pay any bills, and has no concept of what the home is in a human context.

As a result, dogs learn that if the humans aren't in charge and providing structure, then they'll take things into their own hands.

As we work on a holistic approach to training your dog, we gain skills and start to improve the relationship in a way that lets us work on the issues in a productive way, improving our results, as wlel as the speed in which we achieve them.

The bottom line is that a dog with no perceivable place in the hierarchy of the home will start to form their own perceptions and assumptions, and it often is going to be apparent to the owners in a way they won't like.

Wrapping Up: So, How Do You Fix It?

That's a dicey answer. In short, we build skills, make some lifestyle changes, and then address the issues when the dogs and their humans are ready and prepared.

As one final point, the longer a behavior goes on, the harder it is to change. Just like us humans, our dogs can start to become set in their ways. Once you see it start, you should get together with a trainer that has experience with the issues, and then invest into the program. Starting sooner will save you time, money, and angst that will only grow the longer you wait.