LUNGING / LEASH REACTIVITY
Lunging is when your dog suddenly thrusts out toward another dog to preempt potential leash aggression from the other dog. The dog will lunge and may intend to bite because the dog handler didn’t create the distance between the fearful stimulus and it. A lunging dog is one that doesn’t feel sufficiently protected by its handler. Learn to pay attention to who is paying attention. If someone is on their phone and timidly asking their dog to sit or stay or be quiet, do your best to avoid passing by them directly. If someone is unaware that you are approaching but you can see that their dog has noticed yours and is giving it a stalking stare, thereby causing anxiety in your dog, kindly let that person know to hold their dog close. Be aware of every other dog around you as you walk your own, and do your part to diffuse situations before they occur.
Lunging is also a sign that your dog needs more socialization acclimation. It is in our dogs’ natures to form alliances and/ or protect those in its surroundings. Imagine your dog who is lunging, and barking is not ferociously aggressive but instead wailing for connection to form friendships and join a pack. When it never has the tools or the chance to do that, that distance will become the divider. Work toward harmony. Join pack walks. Two in a pack is boring. Three is better. A pack is the ideal and not just for your pup.
Leash reactivity is also when your dog is feisty on leash but totally cool at the dog park. Many humans are perplexed by this, but that’s just because we’re disconnected with instinct. These apparent aggressive behaviors are caused by a dog feeling overly restrained and frustrated or uncomfortable because of a social situation he or she is not down with while being leashed, like being restrained from running away from perceived danger. In most cases, an unleashed dog would be able to put enough distance between himself and the source of his fears. However, if the same dog is leashed and unable to create more distance, he will be reactive in the hope that the fear source will go away. If his reaction creates more distance either because the other dog owner or you created it, he is likely to have that behavior reinforced and continue it in the future. However, if you prevent the situation from arising, your dog won’t feel the need to protect himself. When you see another dog owner who isn’t restraining their leash reactive/ aggressive dog enough to not cause anxiety or aggression in your dog, just do your best to avoid the other animal. You can turn, cross the street, or do what I like to do and teach your dog the command “switch”. This command will have your dog switch to your other side to avoid your dog directly confronting a leash aggressive dog--which will likely only make your dog become more leash aggressive or reinforce the problem. Teaching your dog to “switch” sides will help him learn to be in the presence of dogs that might make him feel defensive but learn that you are going to create the distance between him and what makes him afraid before he must do so. This will reinforce his trust in you and your bond.
My main man, Duke, never had a problem with leash aggression until two small dogs on separate occasions jumped up and like tetherballs with teeth, swung their little bodies up and bit him on the side. It’s noteworthy that both dogs were on retractable leashes with owners not paying attention, but, ultimately, it was my fault for not seeing those little stinkers as a threat.
One inexpensive remedy: start with going on more walks with neighbors and build up more neighbors to join over time. Then once your dogs have walked together for several long walks within a week or less apart, slowly let the friendship happen naturally. Watch for your dog being threatening or feeling threatened. It might bark and look mean, but it’s just not feeling safe. Don’t baby talk it, just walk away and try again later. It’s really that simple. However, if your dog’s leash aggression is upwards of a 6 on a scale of Lassie to Cujo then don’t hesitate to call on your dog walker for advice. If it’s full-on Cujo and has broken someone’s skin, don’t hesitate to call the trainer that you feel matches your dog parenting ideals. I know this stuff may have been said before, but some repetition is not bad. People are dense. This repetition is to train the human.
