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At the End of Your Rope – Leash Reactivity in Canines

4/30/2017

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Leash reactivity in dogs is a very common behavioral issue. You can help your dog become more calm, confident, attentive, and under control when on-leash. Putting a stop to leash reactivity requires diligence, patience, calmness, and attentiveness (sound familiar?) on the part of the person holding the leash as much as from the dog on the other end. 
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Let's begin by asking a very simple question: Do you feel confident when you are walking your dog?

Ending leash reactivity starts here. If you are experiencing anxiety, fear, frustration, or uncertainty while you are out walking your dog, it is imperative that you address it. Perhaps that feeling stems from uncertainty as to whether or not you're able to control your dog when it is reacting, and perhaps it comes from something else entirely. No matter the reason, you will communicate this discomfort to your furry friend, who is constantly observing your body language in an attempt to figure what it is you expect from him/her. Your dog will react to your emotional state in the only way dogs know how.

And that leads into our next question: How do I know if my dog is leash-reactive?
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There are some sure fire cues that most dogs will display when experiencing leash reactivity or anxiety. One excellent indicator is food. If your on-leash dog is unwilling to take food that he or she normally would without hesitation, you know that s/he is uncomfortable and needs some time to adjust. Some anxious or reactive dogs may also lean heavily against their owners, or they may pant, appear restless, bark incessantly, have their tail pinned between their legs, and in some extreme cases, even whimper and cry out. 

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So, what do we do when we know our canine friend is experiencing anxiety/discomfort when on leash?
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Leash-related anxiety is a tough habit to train away once it starts. There are a few things you can do to help reduce and eventually end on-leash anxiety in dogs. Remember, dogs learn in increments. Progress will be slow at first. You must stick with it to see results. Patience, diligence, confidence, and most importantly, lots of love for your struggling furry friend are absolute requirements. 
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We begin with training attention. High value food rewards are critical to teaching a dog to look to you for all things good in the world (that includes food, walks, scratches behind the ears, etc.). Liver, tripe, and other protein rich, all-natural dog treats do the trick. For some dogs, a little extra kibble is more than enough to motivate them. Begin with two seconds of eye contact to train attention. Increase to five, seven, and so on, until your dog gives you a solid thirty seconds without interruption.
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Next, incorporate slow leash walking with the training of attention. Taking a few steps and stopping to wait for your dog to look to you before continuing, are all that this part of leash-reactivity training requires. Sound simple? That's because it is. Your dog will be tempted to be very impatient with you, and want to walk on. Stand firm, make sure that s/he is oriented on you at every opportunity. After some time, your dog will walk at your pace with a loose leash. ​
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This next bit is a little more challenging. You must find your dog's threshold. This is important in terms of distance as related to reactivity. A dog that passes threshold repeatedly becomes harder and harder to rehabilitate. For this reason, avoid allowing your dog to bypass the reactivity threshold once you figure out where it lies (stop the dog before s/he reacts to the anxiety-provoking stimuli). The longer you can keep your dog at threshold, the sooner you will be able to reintroduce the stimulus that provoked the anxiety in the first place. 
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Last but not least comes tried and true classical conditioning. Once your dog has learned to give you his/her attention on leash, is a slow leash walker, and you've learned how to keep him/her at threshold, exposure becomes key. If you and your dog are city dwellers, it is important that you can handle all kinds of potentially anxiety-provoking stimuli; from noisy vehicles, to skateboarders and cyclists on the sidewalk, to strollers and excited children – all of these distractions are an every day reality. Exposing your dog to these when s/he is in the correct frame of both mind and body will teach him/her how to tolerate and eventually accept the stimuli as an everyday part of life.

Utilize these basic tips for leash-training and good manners for yourself and your dog and enjoy this time with your best friend. Learn, get fit, have fun, and do it all with your dog. We can't imagine anything better. 


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    Author

    Camille Salter is the founder of All Dogs Toronto and a certified, knowledge-assessed dog trainer (CPDT-KA). She is the author of two books on dog behavior: Pandemic Puppy, Decoding the Dog Park, and the Big Book of Dog Training. 

    Camille studies neuroscience, applied animal behavior, canine  physiology and nutrition, ethical behavior analysis, evolutionary behavior psychology, neural networks, stress-free animal handling, behavior economics, coaching and consulting. 

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Books On Dogs and Dog Behavior by Camille Salter, CPDT-KA

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Urban dog parks are fraught with risk. These environments host to an ever-changing assemblage of dogs with different backgrounds, life experiences, tolerances, and drives. Learn how to navigate them with confidence, safety, and skill with this navigation guide designed for the active dog parent in mind.​
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"Pandemic Puppy" is a mini-book designed for the undersocialized puppy, and outlines best practices for puppy rearing, socialization during a pandemic, obedience, attention, calming behaviors, and compliance. All delivered in a force-free, scientific manner. Read this book. Once you have these lessons under your wing, you and your puppy will soar with excellence and never look back.



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What Our Clients Are Saying

I adopted Frank not even a month ago. I’ve been training him myself, and got him to do ’sit,’ ‘down,’ ‘come,’ and ‘wait,’ at home. But when we went outside, it was a different story: he got a bit too excited, and that led to pulling on the leash, which wasn’t a pleasant experience for either of us. He never made eye contact with me, and calling his name and offering treats of all sorts didn’t do much, either. Working with Camille turned this around after just one session — she was so patient and calm with both me and Frank, and taught me how I could get Frank to connect the dots between paying attention to me and getting food. Since then, he comes and sits upon command even in the most distracting situations like being surrounded by other dogs in a park with firetruck siren blaring in the background. It’s been so rewarding to start developing this bond with Frank that will last a lifetime. Thank you Camille!” - Maythe Han

"There is only one word to describe Camille: AMAZING. My dog developed separation anxiety during the pandemic. I couldn't even use the washroom without my dog having a panic attack and after a single session and doing the homework, I'm suddenly leaving her alone for 3 hours like it's nothing. MIRACLE. Also, the GTA is filled with irresponsible dog owners who let their untrained dogs off leash in clearly on-leash areas. They sometimes come after us. It's very scary especially since if my dog reacts, she can get in trouble despite them breaking the law and us following it. Camille walked my dog and kept her calm as these inconsiderate owners and their dogs ran about. She teaches dogs and trains people. It was like watching a magician. I'll admit, I had my reservations our first session just based on the steep price, but after working with Camille I know without a doubt she is worth all that and more. Her methods are not for people looking for an easy fix with minimum work. You need to do the homework and put in the time. If you need a dog trainer, there is no one I recommend more than Camille. She will care for your dog like its her own. And just be aware, sometimes she will say things you won't like, but need to hear. When I heard my dog's timeline for separation anxiety was a few months and that I would need to keep her in daycare to avoid worsening things, I was pretty disheartened. Daycare isn't cheap. But she was giving me her professional and realistic opinion and it ultimately paid off. It really REALLY paid off. I honestly can't say enough about this canine miracle worker." - Evalina Ho

"Camille is a brilliant, caring and amazing trainer. She explains a range of outcomes and effort levels and helps navigate the emotional trials of puppyhood.

We are grateful for her knowledge and weekly check-ins to ensure we are on the right path with Hermes (our dog).

We truly support her positive reinforcement approach to dog training and are very satisfied with the results." - Graham Knowles

"I cannot say enough positive things about Camille Salter, the owner of All Dogs. From the moment my rescue dog and I met Camille, I knew she would work wonders. Her demeanor, grace and confidence made my dog fall in love her instantly. She is so incredibly knowledgeable that I try to soak up as much information as I can from her.

I highly highly recommend Camille Salter and All Dogs. Whether you are looking for a professional trainer or walking, she will provide you with all of the tools needed to ensure your dog is set up for success.

Camille is truly a pillar in the community of canine training within Toronto.

Thank you Camille!!" - Tessa Vaskas


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