Many of us get a dog for the opportunities they provide us – going on walks, to the beach, dog parks, or maybe even taking training classes and competing in sports like agility. All of those hopes and dreams can come crashing down the day your dog first barks at other dogs while he’s on a leash.
Suddenly, everyone is looking at you with judgement, as if to say, “Why did you bring that awful dog out in public”? It can be very embarrassing. You may even begin to believe that you’re a bad owner or that your dog is bad. None of this is true and it won’t help you deal with a reactive dog.
Why Some Dogs Bark While They’re On A Leash
This question does not have a simple answer. There are a few reasons why a dog may bark at other dogs on leash and each dog is going to be different. Your dog may bark at other dogs for several reasons:
- Fear or anxiety about other dogs
- Over-excitement
- Guarding (their person, the leash, etc.)
Pure aggression is rarely the cause, but it is a possibility. This is where having a good positive reinforcement dog trainer that understands canine body language is vitally important. They will be able to help you figure out what your dog is going through, which is the first step to helping them overcome it. You can find certified dog trainer on the CCPDT website.
What To Do If Your Dog Barks At Other Dogs While On A Leash
First – don’t give up! While it can be awful to feel like everyone is judging you and your dog, you can work through this and have a fun and happy life with your best friend. It takes work, but isn’t she worth it?
Second – teach focus. One of the biggest keys to solving this problem is teaching your dog to focus on you. A dog that is focused on his owner is not looking around the neighborhood for a dog to bark at. It gives him a job to do instead of being worried, stressed or overexcited. For guarders, they learn to listen to you instead of making their own choice about how to react in a situation.
Third – management. While you and your dog are overcoming her behavior issues, you don’t want her to keep practicing barking, lunging, and growling at dogs while on a leash. So, be proactive and walk your dog when others don’t – like early in the morning or later in the evening. Don’t take her to busy parks on Saturdays and stay away from dog parks. This is just temporary, but it will help you both relax, which is vitally important to the success of the training.
