15/08/2024
Resolving dog-dog reactivity can feel complicated and overwhelming, but you can boil it down to these five simple steps.
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1. Stop Making the Problem Worse. If your dog is reactive, then walking your dog in public is probably overstimulating and overwhelming and it's probably making this problem worse. Also, their reactivity is probably making you nervous and your dog can probably notice your anxiety and that's further fueling your dog's reactivity.
2. Train Your Dog to FEEL Better. If your dog's reactivity is in any way fear-based, then resolving that fear is essential. Classical conditioning is the key to helping your dog feel better around other dogs. In a single "Mega Cookie Dog Session" you can make a huge change in the way your dog feels about other dogs and in a week or two, you can completely transform their temperament.
3. Train Your Dog to BEHAVE Better. How do you want your dog to behave when they see another dog? How about they Come to you, Sit, Stay and Watch You? This sequence of behaviors is perfect for nipping dog-dog reactivity in the bud by getting your dog's attention off of other dogs and onto you. Practice this sequence until its second nature and super reliable.
4. Practice in Progressively More Challenging Environments. It's one thing getting your dog to Come, Sit-Stay and Watch You when you are alone together in your kitchen. It's another when you're on the street with a bunch of unfamiliar dogs walking your way. So break it down into manageable steps. Practice in your home, then in your back yard, then your driveway, then the sidewalk in front of your house, then around familiar dogs, and then, finally, out in the real world around unfamiliar dogs.
5. Create a Core Social Group. If you really want your dog to be comfortable around other dogs, then you need to give your dog ample opportunities to practice their social skills and build their confidence. Simply put, your dog needs dog friends! Meet with a small group of familiar dogs on a regular basis to practice training and socialization and your dog will become much more comfortable around other, unfamiliar dogs.
