Walk Reactivity
During my walking field trips we always encountered so many challenges and distractions and former triggers that used to send the training dog into a reactive tizzy!
We see bikes, atv’s, cats, horses, scooters, roller skaters, skateboarders, cyclists, people and other dogs all out enjoying enjoying summers end. Something that I often talk about in my posts is advocating for our dogs and I wanted to dive a little deeper into what that means and doesn’t mean.
When I talk about advocating for our dogs, it means from unreasonable situations and unreasonable pressure and unwanted attention/contact. It doesn’t mean making excuses for our dog’s bad behaviour or allowing poor choices like reactivity. Nope, that stuff all needs to be corrected and the dog needs to be trained to walk properly in a heel and also to do it calmly and politely! To stay tuned into his handler and to follow commands willingly. And in exchange, we handlers must advocate for the dog at all times by not allowing others into his personal space nor to touch or unfairly pressure him.
When I’m walking a formerly dog reactive dog and we encounter other dogs, I have taught the training dog how to walk calmly past them with help from his handler correcting mental arousal, guiding him in his heel and also using reasonable space away from on coming dogs (more than a 4’ sidewalk but not avoiding or hiding from the situation) as we pass by. Walking too close to a reactive dog or trying to pass one on a 4 ft side walk is unreasonable pressure and actually dangerous if the dog lunged at us, so it’s very important to make space away.
Advocating for the training dog also means we decline allowing dogs to meet on leash (NEVER allow dogs to meet on leash!) and keeping dogs out of his personal space on and off leash. As handlers of formerly reactive dogs it is our duty to shoulder these responsibilities for them so that they don’t have to become reactive once again (defensive/over excited/uncomfortable /etc.) attempting to do it for themselves.