19/02/2024
I love helping dogs who exhibit leash reactivity.
Two of my own rescues have been great teachers in this, including Comet here.
A lot of reactivity therapy involves increasing engagement - i.e. our dog looking at us, checking in, taking treats from us - while on leash. We begin teaching engagement in low-distraction settings like inside the house, then slowly build up difficulty like backyard, front porch, quiet neighborhood block or park, and eventually more challenging outdoor settings.
The very first step is to pay attention to your dog. Teach a marker word or clicker, and mark and reward when they look at you. Repetition is key.
Once into more challenging settings, keep in mind that though it may seem like a relatively simple thing for our dog to look at us, the choice to look away from something stressful or exciting is not actually very easy. Increasing value of treats as the settings get harder is important.
Comet has learned engagement including checking in with me around other dogs. Her reactivity still requires some management in certain situations like making sure she has enough distance and utilizing pattern games. The skill of learning to look at me even while around distractions is foundational to all the progress she’s made.
