Why does my dog bark at other dogs on leash walks? How to stop?

Many dogs have this problem - it's called leash reactivity :) It happens because Laika is so excited to see another dog, and frustrated because she can't immediately run over to them - which leads to barking and lots of crazy, uncontrollable behavior. Fortunately, this behavior is usually very treatable with a good training plan. Normally, a training plan for these dogs involves using very tasty treats to reward calm behavior at a distance from another dog - it's critical that you're far enough away that she can be calm and take treats, which means that you may need a lot of distance at first! Once she understands the game and is doing well, you can gradually move closer. It can be hard to do this on your own at first, so I would really recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer who can help you in person. He/she can help by setting up controlled training situations at first with a calm "helper dog" to help both of you get the idea of how to work on the problem, until you're ready to transition to real life scenarios like passing another dog on a walk.

It sounds like your pups may be a little under socialized and may need some extra help. Tugging on a extra short leash can just create more tension and stress which may encourage the barking and aggressive behavior. It is best to contact a local trainer or behaviorist in your area who can work with you on dog on dog aggression, usually with a training technique of BAT or desensitization to get your dogs used to being around and positively interacting with other dogs. It is important to work with someone in person that can be there to step in if there is a problem and observe/teach what behaviors are happening. If your dogs are able to, a basic obedience class may also be useful to teach some loose-leash walking manners, and help you and your dogs understand and work better together.

the best way is the keep exposing him to other dogs. If you have a friend that has a well adjusted dog he could meet first would be best. Let them sniff each other on the leash before letting them play. some dogs act completely friendly and normal off the leash around other dogs than they do on the leash. Once he gets comfortable with this interaction you can progress to other dogs. You can try to find a group puppy class that can teach basic obedience and gets them used to other dogs at the same time.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The answer is complicated and stems from the root of the problem. If Cassidy genuinely wants to play and meet these dogs, I don’t know that I would necessarily do anything. If this stems from fear of other dogs, leash anxiety specifically, or protectiveness of you, these are treated differently. Lowering the fear threshhold (if appropriate) via anti-anxiety medication can help tremendously. I’ve had severely dog-aggressive dogs who, with medication, don’t seem to care at all when they pass another dog on a walk. Results of course vary depending on root cause, medication, and individual dog. Counter-conditioning is also crucial. This is the act of training Cassidy to associate other dogs with something good (usually treats). This can take weeks and all of dedication and patience but is usually more effective and long-lasting than medication. Sometimes it is not effective however, until the medication is started. I’d have a conversation with a vet first to help narrow down the cause and start on medication if appropriate. Then move to a reputable trainer or behaviorist. Best wishes to you and Cassidy!

I recommend a group obedience training class so he will learn to listen to you with other people and dogs around. In the meantime find a friend with an older confident dog that walks well on the leash and plan your dog walks together. That way your dog will learn from the other dog and not be as anxious. Please reward him when he relaxes and goes forward. I would also start with short walks where there are minimal distractions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Tucker.

Leash aggression is a complex behavior issue that is best handled by a professional who can give you some hands-on guidance. I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist (www.dacvb.org) or a good reward-based trainer who has experience working with aggression issues in dogs (www.ccpdt.org) The general approach to treatment for this problem is to reward the dog for calm behavior in the presence of his triggers (people, other dogs, etc.), starting at a distance where the dog is able to be successful, then gradually moving closer as long as things are going well. For some dogs, this means that you may need a lot of distance at first! Having a professional to work with is very helpful, since they can help you set up controlled training sessions with "helper" dogs or people to practice until you and your dog have the hang of things. Punishment of any kind for this behavior (including verbal corrections, leash corrections, shock collar, etc.) is not recommended because it often makes the problem worse over time. Steer clear of any trainer who recommends these techniques, and look for an educated reward-based trainer instead.

You may try training Nora to focus on you. You will need a high value treat or toy that she gets at no other time. Start with the other dog far away. As soon as she sees the other dog, call her name, have her look at you (or even sit) and reward the behavior. Most dogs will generally learn that the strange dog means a reward for them. Gradually move closer to the other dog. There are many different training tips and I recommend to do some research. There is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who has written many books addressing various behavior issues and I recommend to read some of her material. I hope this helps.