How to Walk a Reactive Dog (and Handle Off-Leash Dogs)

By Marta Tari, COAPE Diploma in Dog Behaviour and Training

I have worked with multiple reactive dogs and their owners over more than 10 years:. Jack Russells, Dachshunds, Rottweilers, Cavalier Spaniels, Podencos, XL bullies, pit-bulls, rescues from shelters, and many more. Different shapes and sizes but the same story underneath: a dog who feels overwhelmed and doesn't know what else to do.

Here is my personal take on them and what I have learned so far:

The other dogs and owners are the real challenge

With one of my customers who had a very reactive dog called Tito, a Labrador/Border Collie mix rescue dog who moved from the calm countryside of Texas, USA to the busy streets of Madrid, Spain. He had severe reactivity towards other dogs and his owner found me and asked to help as walks have become too overwhelming. Tito was a strong dog, she was also concerned Tito will cause some harm either to himself or his owner. We knew the triggers, the warning signs, and exactly how much distance Tito needed. And we could plan for all of that.

What I could not plan for is people with their dogs. The amount of off-leash dogs with zero recall capabilities or owners who do not understand what it is like having a reactive dog. A stranger's dog running towards us off leash, with an owner shouting "Don't worry, he's friendly!" or "He just wants to say Hi!"  from 20 metres away was the most challenging part of Tito's training plan. That is where most walks fall apart, for my clients and for me. Managing your own dog is a skill you can learn. Managing everyone else's is the hardest part.  

This is what we did: 

Let the leash talk

Buy a "not friendly" , "anxious" or "in training" leash to let people know already, without verbal communication, that their dog or them are not welcomed to greet your dog. 

There are multiple options in pet stores or online. 

After we introduced a collar like this for Tito, our interactions with strangers have reduced by 50%. 

Now it was time to tackle the other 50%.

How to avoid trouble in the first place

Prevention does more than any technique you will learn later.

• We walked at quiet times and in quiet places.
• We scanned ahead constantly, so we could spot the triggers before Tito did
• We simply did a calm U-turn or crossed the street if we saw other dogs approaching
• We always had high-value treats and use them when and while Tito stayed calm

Avoiding the situation is not weakness nor avoidance, it is good management.

Confession: on one occasion, when I tried all of the above, asking the owner to put their dog on the leash, asking them to recall their dog etc. and the owner simply didn't listen and kept saying how their dog is friendly and I should not worry as they won't bite Tito, I eventually said, very calmly: "I cannot guarantee Tito won't bite yours". This made her recall her dog immediately and put him on the leash and hurried away. This was my last resort. Even though the owner saw Tito lunging towards her dog, and me trying to walk away, she did not understand the severity of the what was happening. 

I do not encourage you to tell people your dog will bite theirs. This was a situation that started to escalated and I had no choice. 

What to do when an off-leash dogs does approach your reactive dog 

Try not to let the dog be on top of you.

• Call out as soon as you see them: "Could you please put your dog on the leash? Mine isn't comfortable with other dogs."
• Keep it short. You don't owe anyone a full explanation.
• Stay friendly. People respond far better to a calm request than to a panicked shout.
• If they don't respond, or respond in a negative way, simply move away. Cross the street, turn around, and put an obstacle such as a car or a bench between the dogs if the distance is too close.

Your job is to protect your dog, not to win an argument.

Next steps: start a behaviour modification program for your reactive dog

This is the part many owners miss, and it changes everything.

Training teaches a dog what to do: sit, stay, heel. Behaviour modification changes how a dog feels in that situation. A reactive dog isn't being disobedient. He knows how to sit. He just can't process a sit cue while his body is flooded with stress.

If I only train the behaviour, I am asking him to hide the emotion. If I modify the behaviour, I change the emotion itself, so that the sight of another dog predicts something good, not something scary. That means gradual exposure below threshold, positive associations, and patience, using a science-based, force-free approach. It takes time, but the change lasts because it comes from the inside.

The takeaway

Your dog isn't broken, and you are not failing. With the right plan, most reactive dogs become calmer, more confident and far easier to live with, and so do their owners.

Need help with your reactive dog?

If you would like help building that plan, I work with dog owners worldwide. Check out the programme for managing reactivity or if you are not sure where to start, book in for a free chat using the button below: