Many pet parents struggle when trying to manage dogs that have exaggerated responses to different triggers. The reactive dog will lunge and bark excitedly in an effort to either escape or protect itself from what it views as a threat.
The triggers can range from kids running past, another dog, the mailperson, loud noises, sudden movements, and more. Training is an essential tool for modifying the reactive behavior.
Qualified professional trainers like those at Murfreesboro’s Sit Means Sit work with you and your pup to eventually view the trigger as a positive instead of a threat.
The trainers use techniques and exercises like desensitization and counterconditioning to teach canines to remain calm and composed when facing fears. The training professional gives pet parents’ practical tools to use at home so there’s consistency in the process.
With a combined effort, the pup can flourish into a more confident, well-behaved member of the family.
Tips For Managing a Reactive Dog
Reactivity for a dog is an overreaction to something in the environment most commonly due to fear or viewing it as a threat. The exaggerated response is the pup’s effort to scare the trigger away and protect himself. Aggressiveness or causing harm is often not the intention.
The first thing to understand is that a reactive dog is not a bad dog. The pup can’t predict when the behavior will happen nor does he understand it. The best approach is with patience, positivity, and an informed professional training program.
Visit https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/active-families/reactive-dog-training-and-tips/ for guidance on managing your reactive dog. Then follow below for a few tips to help transform your reactive dog.
Trigger recognition
Before managing the behavior, you must identify who or what leads to the response. You want to gauge the emotional intensity toward the trigger and how long the reaction lasts.
For some dogs, the trigger can be a distance away and not bother them; however, if it comes closer or approaches suddenly the reaction is tremendous. Others will react in either situation. In order to set a threshold for your pup, watch his body language in different environments.
You’ll know a problem is developing when he stiffens or starts to quiver. With adequate details, a trainer will be better prepared to create an effective program to help modify the behavior.
Incorporate positive reinforcement
Commonly, reactivity is fear-based, and trainers will circumvent it slowly with positive associations toward the perceived threat. That means giving the pup something he loves to associate with the trigger’s presence.
Often, this would be a super special treat that he wouldn’t have had for any other reason except in this situation. When the training program begins, the reward is offered as the canine stays calm with no reaction when the trigger is nearby. Counterconditioning is essentially viewing the trigger as a positive instead of a negative.
For example, if the pup reacts to other dogs, reward him when he simply notices a dog and gradually build that expectation to having him not react when the dog is nearby to get the reward. Timing is of the utmost when rewarding your dog.
The treat should be given as close to the appropriate behavior as possible, not once the dog has gone into undesired reactions. You want to avoid inadvertently rewarding the wrong behavior.
Desensitization
Desensitizing your canine to a perceived threat involve exposing him to the trigger in a controlled setting keeping the dog below his reactive threshold. The objective is for the pup to become more tolerant of the trigger as he is repeatedly and progressively moved toward it.
The process is time-intensive and requires consistency and dedication but the training effectively modifies the behavior. The trainer will initially introduce the trigger at a distance to avoid producing a reaction.
This distance will gradually decrease from session to session unless there’s a reaction. Any reactivity is a sign to take a few steps back in the training and then try to move forward again.
The pup should be rewarded for an appropriate response regardless of whether he needs to back up to a less intense level.
Distraction training
When faced with distractions, reactivity can be an adverse effect. This makes training programs outside of a controlled atmosphere more of a challenge. Still, a qualified trainer will often incorporate distractions into their programs to make the situation more real-life for the pup.
Distractions can run the gamut from obedience commands to walking by a schoolyard with kids playing. The priority is to remain consistent and repetitive with your technique. The greater the capacity for the pup to stay calm despite the distractions, the better he’ll be in daily life circumstances.
Consistency and patience
One thing to remember when managing and training a reactive dog is that each pup is different. What works for one canine might be ineffective for another. The solutions are not fast and furious but relatively slow and steady with incremental progress coming in small steps you might not notice right away.
Patience is a priority despite what can seem frustrating. Loading on plenty of love and being consistent with training will help your dog transform into a less stressed, happy, and confident version of himself. Go here to learn how you can support your reactive dog.
Final Thought
Professional dog trainers in Murfreesboro work diligently to help pet parents manage their reactive dog’s behavior. The training sessions are set up to accommodate different pup’s needs. Each canine has a unique way of processing information and learning.
The experience should be personalized for individual behaviors and specific responses. Training a reactive dog is a team effort involving the professional and you as the pet parent.
The process takes considerable time and patience. For each step forward, you could take two back, but each victory should be celebrated and positively rewarded.
With a solid commitment and the best techniques, your pup can come through the training program with a happier and more harmonious outlook.