LEASH REACTIVE DOGS
Dogs Who Bark and Lunge While Walking on a Leash
What Causes Leash Reactivity?
Leash reactivity has different root causes but is partly the result of a surge of energy produced by your dog's primal emotional responses to the environment.
Any time a dog experiences feelings of fear, worry, curiosity, or desire while walking on a leash, their arousal state will increase as their body gets ready to respond to environmental stimuli, resulting in hormonal secretions that flood a dog’s body with energy.
Do You Dread Taking Your Dog for a Walk?
If your dog gets overstimulated or overwhelmed while walking on a leash, they may bark and lunge aggressively toward other people, dogs, or any moving object on daily walks.
This behavior is known as “leash reactivity,” a condition that can make your normally sweet dog appear aggressive and turn everyday walks into a nightmare!
Frustration Leads to Barking & Lunging
However, when a dog feels held back from responding naturally to environmental stimuli - either because they want to slow down to check something out before getting any closer (which indicates an underlying feeling of fear, worry, or concern), or the opposite, they want to approach something but can’t (indicating curiosity, desire, or excitement) - they can quickly get frustrated, resulting in lunging and barking at whatever stimuli have captured their attention.
Regular rehearsals of this frustrated response are what turn leash-reactive behavior into a bad habit, making it difficult to enjoy your walk with your dog or take them anywhere.
To learn more, please visit our blog post on what causes a dog to become leash-reactive.
Get Help Now for Your Leash Reactive Dog
Our virtual 90-minute introductory sessions are specifically designed to address your most pressing concerns about leash reactivity and provide you with actionable steps and strategies to manage your dog's behavior effectively.
During this session, we’ll dive straight into training, equipping you with practical techniques you can implement right away. This way you can experience the effectiveness of virtual training firsthand before deciding whether to enroll in a full program.
Leash Reactivity Program
90-Minute Intro Session | $150
8-Week Program | $995*
(1) 90-Minute Intro Session
(8) Weekly 90-Minute Sessions
Unlimited Support
*If you decide to enroll in a program, the cost of the intro session will be deducted from the total price of your program.
We’re here to help you and your dog thrive!
At Dog Savvy, we specialize in identifying the root causes of your dog’s behavior and providing effective solutions to turn things around.
For dogs with leash reactivity, we recommend a tailored combination of Behavior Modification Training (BMT) and basic leash manners training. BMT addresses how your dog feels around their triggers—whether it’s other dogs, people, or distractions—by using science-backed desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques. This helps prevent your dog from becoming overwhelmed or overstimulated by environmental triggers.
In addition, basic leash manners training teaches your dog to focus on you and practice self-control, reducing the frustration they feel on walks, lowering the chances of reactive outbursts.
Ready to start transforming your dog’s behavior? Schedule an intro session, and we’ll help you take the first step toward more enjoyable, stress-free walks with your dog.
Want to Chat First?
We would be glad to offer you a free behavior consultation. Simply fill out the form below, and we will get in touch with you promptly.