Other times, the object of their emotional display may feel threatened by their aroused behavior and react with defensive aggression when approached. Sometimes the intensity of their frustration has already pushed them over their own threshold to the point they will aggress if released and allowed to interact. These dogs will often run up to the object of their attention and happily engage in appropriate interaction if released from restraint – but not always. An example would be the dog who is very eager to interact with the other stimulus – often another dog – but is thwarted from doing so by a leash, fence, other barrier, or physical restraint by a human. This usually presents in dogs who were not well-socialized, who are generally fearful or anxious, and/or who have perhaps had life events, whether accidental or deliberately abusive, that now cause them to be particularly sensitive to the stimuli that are triggering their abnormal levels of arousal. One is caused by fear or anxiety and commonly includes a significant risk of aggression. There are two distinctly different types of reactive behavior.
Dog reactivity training how to#
The good news is we can usually help these dogs learn how to be behaviorally appropriate in the presence of their triggers. It can be disappointing to discover that your dog’s level of reactive behavior is beyond – or even far beyond – what you were prepared to cope with. While many owners are capable of dealing with a dog who displays a low to moderate level of reactivity, dogs who display high levels of arousal can be daunting even to experienced dog lovers. It doesn’t have to be extreme to be considered reactivity – just “abnormal.” Thus, the dog who barks a few times at the doorbell would not be considered reactive, but the dog who barks excessively at the sight of another dog, a non-threatening human, a passing vehicle, or any other stimulus that causes a significant overreaction, would be.
What is a reactive dog? Here’s the best definition I’ve heard: A reactive dog is one with an abnormal level of arousal in response to a normal stimulus. The word “reactive” gets used to describe everything from the dog who barks a few times when the doorbell rings to the dog who turns into a raving lunatic in the presence of her triggers. Science has proven that no breed needs a “heavier hand” or harsh training tools to learn.Reactivity is a commonly used term in the dog behavior and training world, but it’s frowned upon by some in our profession because it’s a somewhat nebulous behavioral descriptor. All of this will be done through positive reinforcement training. Andrew will teach you distraction techniques, redirection, behaviour thresholds, focus and, most important, confidence in the handler. You will learn how to lower stress in your dog, build calm responses, teach alternate behaviours to reactivity and reinforce the absence of reactivity. Whether you take the classes or the private sessions, Andrew will help you understand why your dog is reactive and how to help change this behaviour. These sessions take place in the comfort of your own home or on a local walk depending on what you are working on. Think this is too much for your dog? Not to worry, Andrew offers personalized one on one private sessions.
We provide visual barriers so the dogs cannot see each other unless we are practicing. The class is perfect for dogs that can be in a setting where other dogs are around but not necessarily seen.
Dog reactivity training series#
The thing most Reactive Dogs share is low confidence, fearfulness and the need for guidance.ĭepending on your dog’s level of reactivity we have two options for you.įirst we have a Reactive Dog Class a series of six class sessions. The Reactive Dog can be big or small and any type of breed. A dog can be reactive in the home, out of the home or both. What is Reactive Dog? The Reactive Dog is the dog that may bark, growl, or lunge at other dogs, people, bikes or they may get stressed and/or upset at every day noises and situations. These dogs need our help the most! And for this reason, Andrew specialized in behaviour modification for these Reactive dogs. Reactive dogs are not bad dogs, they just have a harder time than other dogs coping with every day scenarios. While Andrew loves training all dogs, reactive dogs hold a special place in his heart.
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