Course Details
Many dogs react to stimuli in a way that we perceive as inappropriate or extreme.
This often occurs when on leashed walks. The stimulus may be a jogger, a cyclist, a skateboarder, another dog, or a novel object. Frequently the response is intensified with increased movement or noise, decreased distance, or the sudden appearance of the stimulus. There may even appear to be an element of unpredictability in the dog’s response.
For some dogs “leash reactivity” can look like intense focus, followed by strong pulling, growling, and barking; sometimes it is more of an active version with leaping, lunging, and darting at the end of the leash; sometimes there is ambivalence; and sometimes the dog appears fine and then suddenly lunges at the last moment.
Although we often use the umbrella term “leash reactivity”, the underlying emotions and motivations driving the behaviors frequently differ. These can include such driving forces as genetic traits associated with owner guarding, intolerance to unknown dogs, strong desire to chase, or a generalized hypervigilance. Fear and anxiety are also common causes. Even simple over-arousal due to excitement or frustration can result in this type of response.
In this workshop we will learn how to methodically replace the dog’s existing behavior with a more relaxed and thinking alternative. We will also discuss when and how to use management protocols and distraction techniques.
This protocol is effective not only for leash reactivity, but also for any situation where an identifiable stimulus (visual or auditory) causes over-arousal due to fear, anxiety, excitement, or frustration.
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