Simple Strategies for Less Stress On-Leash
Many dogs bark and lunge at other dogs (and sometimes humans) while on the leash and this is what is called “reactive” behavior. It’s not necessarily a sign of a “friendly” dog or even a happy one. This behavior takes a lot out of both the pooch and the person. Fortunately, there are ways to help your dog develop better on leash social skills.
Less-than-stellar canine manners are certainly not a city phenomenon. Go out to the suburbs, and you’ll find plenty of dogs barking behind fences, and “yelling” their way through a walk. But, this type of behavior is often a bigger issue for urban dog owners who might not have the luxury of big yards and less densely-populated areas. I suspect it’s a bigger issue for reactive dogs, too. After all, regardless of what the underlying cause is for their behavior, they are put in the same high-pressure situation, walk-after-walk. That’s stressful for both owner and dog, and chronic stress rarely improves anyone’s behavior.
While there are many great parts of having a cosmopolitan canine, it’s good to appreciate the existing challenges for our dogs, too. When social, mature dog “strangers” meet each other off-leash, they’ll often make a slightly curved approach, rather than running straight at one another. They may skip the meeting completely, or meet, sniff and play, or maybe they just sniff and separate. The choice and freedom to approach, interact, separate, flee, and ignore are all present, not dictated by owners or strangers.
Walking through the city, on the other hand, dogs and owners may be the recipients of well-meaning, but unwanted, on-leash greetings from other owners that assume all dogs want to say, “Hello” [they don’t]. We have “head-on” passes with oncoming owners and dogs, and previously unseen pooches appearing suddenly around a corner. What’s more, these pass-bys and surprises happen when our dogs are confined (the leash) in close quarters (the sidewalk).
Leashes are a necessary and non-negotiable reality for the safety of humans and dogs alike, so please don’t misunderstand this as a recommendation to walk your dog unleashed. Just keep in mind that restricted freedom and close encounters make things a bit more complicated for the average dog. Whether or not your dog has a barking-lunging-growling issue, a few simple changes can lessen dog-to-dog tensions.
Firstly, do you know where your dog is? Is it the end of their leash or the end of a 10’ retractable leash? It’s going to be tough to communicate, and nearly impossible to quickly remove him, should things go south. How about your dog’s current level of excitement? If he’s tense, rigid, highly activated, darting after squirrels, nervously eyeing noisy trucks, straining to pull you with every shred of his strength...well, then he’s already hopped up on doggie-adrenaline, and more likely to respond to stress explosively.
Many dog owners notice that their dog is less hell-bent on barking at another dog from behind, rather than facing, another dog. Maybe our fuzzy-brained buddies figure that the bum-end of another dog is just less menacing, or maybe they just have less to prove to each others’ rear ends. Whatever the reason, try to be at the end of the parade, so to speak, and see if your dog appears calmer.
Undoubtedly, the toughest situation for owners of fearful or reactive dogs is the surprise bump with another dog and owner as you turn a sharp corner. Try taking wide corners, positioning your dog on the outermost side or taking a tight corner and keeping your dog on the inside. Practice getting and keeping your dog’s attention focused on you whenever you turn a corner so that you’ll be more likely to have success when the going gets tough. Listen for the telltale dog-tag jingle and watch for increased alertness from your dog prior to rounding a blind corner so that you are better prepared to either give your dog more space or to turn around and get out of the way.
Of course, even with preparation, stuff happens. Stay calm, if you have adequate space, try to help your dog first recover and relax a bit THEN get outta there.
Even if your pooch doesn’t bark and lunge at other dogs, practicing the above items can help increase attentiveness and prevent future issues. If your dog already has a meltdown upon seeing another dog, then you are going to need some professional guidance to help dial back the clock and change the way your pooch perceives canine encounters. In the meantime, simple solutions can often go a long way to helping you and your dog to cope with life in the big (or not so big) city.
