Why are so many dogs leash reactive these days?

[Amazetl]

I’ve been helping out a friend walking their medium size cross breed and he is leash reactive. I’m pretty sure he just wants to play with other dogs he sees on his walk but he lunges and tries to drag me even onto the road if the dog is on the other side. The dog can be as far away in his sight and he starts up. 

 

I’ve been working with him but something I’ve noticed is that there are so many leash reactive dogs about. Is it because they have been allowed to greet dogs on walks before? Is it dog parks? Harnesses? I’m sure it’s many things but it just seems like I’m noticing it more and more. This dog used to go to the dog park so he sees another dog and expects to be able to play with them I believe. 

 

Do you see this too when out and about? 

 

I am lucky with my own dogs. They have never been allowed to greet other dogs on walks, although sometimes a dog will come right up. They have never been to the dog park and show little natural interest in other dogs thankfully so that’s why I wonder if it’s those things since dog parks have become so popular. 

[_PL_]

I've been thinking it was lockdown combined with a spike in dog ownership. 

[SchnauzerMax]

I think it is a lot of things in combination - increase in dog ownership, using harnesses instead of collars and leads (you might as well hook up a sled and get them to pull something), more dog owners not really knowing what they are doing and choosing inappropriate breeds, etc.  Most of the lockdown times, you could still walk your dog and get about but people who got a dog for companionship during those times most likely would not have got a dog in normal times and probably didn’t even give a thought to training it.

 

 

[Deeds]

Perhaps the age of the dog and the owners usual habits of letting it say hello to passing dogs is part of the reason. 

 

Some dogs are more sociable than other dogs.  And in my experience going to the Dog Park and playing off leash in the Dog Park has a lot to do with it and the dog's expectations.

[Little Gifts]

Adding to what Schnauzer Max said you've also got a lot more people backyard breeding as a side hustle with certain breeds and colours and they are just moving those pups on quickly with no socialisation or training. All the dogs we have fostered recently have been 1 - 2 years old and had zero leash skills. 2 were/are also reactive to other dogs (one due to limited eye sight). People are getting these cute puppies without any training or socialisation and the problems just increase as they get older and stronger. They think they naturally know how to leash walk and behave when off leash with other dogs. We had one who never seemed like he'd even been in a vehicle before. Whether it is laziness on the owner's part or a lack of of knowledge about what can be achieved with training, too many dogs are deteriorating in backyards and then surrendered as too much or problematic for the owner. Very sad and not their fault.

[Dogsfevr]

Because so many owners are thick as a brick & let their dogs just go up to any dog without thinking & without respecting their own dogs lack of manners .
To many dogs getting bullied onleash & deciding to get in first .
Sad reality but Australian dog owners do themselves no favours .
Covid can not be blamed  that excuse is just so over used ,bad leash manners was not covids fault .

Extendable leads,dog park bullying & entitled owners who think Fifi can come over saying hello without asking 

And TOO many useless dog trainers who pander to owners instead of simply laying down the future in black n white .
I do know of many owners who gave up training as trainers just seemed to suck them into a long term plan for training with no results or solutions offered .
Whilst im all for positive training saying No is not  the end of the world 
And snowflake owners who think Fifi heart will be broken if its owners grows some balls & steps up to being the owner their Dog would love to have instead of the owner they end up with 

Edited March 30 by Dogsfevr

[tdierikx]

I swear that my current foster puppy thinks his name is "no" or "uhh" sometimes, as he hears both a lot! The reality is that he's high energy and easily aroused, and needs strong boundaries enforced so he'll grow up as a good canine citizen. He's only 10 weeks old, but the earlier he learns what is acceptable and what is not, the better he will do once he's adopted into a new family. We have gone from him being a complete maniac demanding attention all the time, to a much calmer and less clingy little fellow in just a couple of weeks. He sleeps in his crate overnight like a true little pro, and he settles in his big playpen and doesn't annoy the neighbours with whinging or barking if I have to go out for any period of time. He is free running the house and yard when I'm home (most of the time), and toilet training is slowly coming together... he gets to just inside the back door to do his poops, and has managed to do a couple actually outside on his own... yay! He is starting to understand what is required of him in that area of training. He also has worked out that if he sits like a good boy and looks up at me with his good boy puppy eyes, he gets cuddles and pats, but if he's jumping up or mouthing, he gets ignored or told "no" or "uhh" until he sits calmly... then he gets his cuddle/pats. He has also learned to be a good boy when on the couch with me, settling down for a nap or just cuddles. We both nanna nap on the couch at regular intervals.

 

Personally, I think this little fellow will be really good at dog sports, as he's actually highly biddable, but high energy. He is also highly praise driven, rather than wanting food rewards, which I think is much better, as one may not always have food on hand to get their dog to do what they need to do. He also loves his toys, so those could be used instead of food for rewards too. He's pretty good at his recall already too, as he had to learn that quickly when I had my other foster with a dodgy knee who wasn't allowed to play zoomies with this little one, so calling the little one back when he wanted to play hard with the other foster was a paramount need.

 

Laying ground rules early while a pup is still young sets them up for much greater success when we rehome them IMHO.

 

T.

[Little Gifts]

Yep I'm with you there T! Good breeders know these things about their pups and match them with the right family. Shitty breeders just say which one do you like the best, give me money and its yours, so new owners have no idea if they are a suitable match. And that's why you get so many surrenders when they hit their terrible teens.

 

I've never yelled out the name of a dog as much as I have Albert. He will chew on and try to swallow anything. Often he'll come  running by with something in his mouth he knows he shouldn't have simply for the attention. We are still trying to get him to understand he can get the attention he needs in other, better ways.  Add to that he has lost eyesight because of neglect for a medical condition and someone has let this poor young dog down terribly.

[jemappelle]

My 7 year old Cav has become leash reactive in the last few months.  We can walk past people's yards and around caravan parks, with dogs behind fences and barking at us, and she doesn't even look at them.  But one coming towards us and it's on.  So annoying!  I try to go the other way before it starts but sometimes the other dogs just appear.     

[ellz]

Harnesses!!!!!  The worst thing that could happen to many (not all….but many) dogs.

 

I am currently in Hobart, dog sitting my youngest son’s manic, brain dead Cocker Spaniel.  My son has finally grasped the reason why I never put dogs on harnesses while he was growing up!  Unfortunately, he caved in to his partner’s wishes and because she’d only ever had dogs on harnesses….he opted for peace.

 

So now, while his owners are away, their dog is in boot camp and is learning how to walk nicely on a lead, sit calmly on a grooming table and sleep in a crate without throwing tantrums that upset his female owner so much that she’d immediately let him out! 

[coneye]

Think the answers to this question are has long has they are varied , its not one thing its lots of reasons , . But i think right up there is bad manners , from owners ,  that  let  little fido do has he wants , and  do not  disciplne or teach there dog manners just like they don't teach there kids ,  sign of the times

 

I'm not a breeder or shower of dogs  , nor am i a trainer of dogs , so i don't claim to know everything   we can all learn , but what i am is a guy who has had dogs all his life , and i've never had any problems really , ALL my dogs  have been behaved  had a couple  perhaps not so much , BUT  every dog has been under control  usually by  a look , a call , or speach , and  i  have never  ever hesitated to leash any dog that is remotly reactive to other dogs ,  , my dogs have been my mates  and i don't want to see them bite or get bitten by another dog , but above all i have always treated them  has what they are ANIMALS , and  you need to control them , I think   too many people nowqadays treat there dogs has babys ,  , even thats OK has long has you relize , babys grow into todllers , --- into children --- into teenagers , and manners need to be taught early ,   giving a dog a tug and saying a sharp NO is not cruel its quite often needed .

[dee lee]

I think the prevalence of Oodles has a lot to do with it. People who have never owned dogs get them because they are like living stuffed toys & treat them accordingly. Most of them are small enough to pick up when there’s any issue, so the owners don’t feel the need to actually train them. I have a number of friends who fit that description as do 80% of dogs I see on the street. 

That said, you’d likely judge me poorly too if you saw me on the street. 

My 6 month old 22kg RR is a stubborn gregarious beast who despite having never being allowed to meet dogs onlead, rarely offleash, and being trained with various “aversive” tools to loose leash walk, is still a reactive “frustrated greeter”. I continue to train her and am optimistic that as she matures the penny will drop. She walks well otherwise & isn’t aggressive, just gets overexcited. My last dog was not very interested in other dogs so it’s been a frustrating process. 
I do have a front pull harness so that my family can walk her (I use a slip lead or martingale), as it is the only tool that will easily prevent her from lunging now she’s big, but attached to the back and used as a normal harness it’s a nightmare. Handy for long lead training though. 

[coneye]

Now thinking about it , I wonder what percentage of dogs leash reactive are just sencing and passing on there owners nerves , I'm saying this   because   my wife and I over the years have had thousands of walks on the dog beach  and you can bet your life if my dog has been off leash or even on leash ,if another dog approaches , my wife gets nervous and  will tell me   grab the dog,  grab the dog , i will say leave it let them sniff  let them socialize   , course i've always kept a close eye for  bad body language  and  on the very rare occasion   stepped in  put mine on leash or  said to the other person  grab ya dog mate , but thats been pretty rare .

 

Also   two rottys i  owned on different occasions i actuallu banned my wife from walking them , she would come home and tell me  they were aggressive with other dogs  and sometimes people walking towards her , i actually followed her one day to watch and straight away spotted the problem , SHE  not the dog was getting nervouse if others approached , she said she was scared to death of dog fights , but facts are   i NEVER had the problem with me both them dogs would totally ignore human or animal , with her i think they senced her nerves and went into protective mode .

 

I've also noticed  when i'm there , (dog beach ) its easy to tell the confident dogs, there usually with confident owners , theres a lady  who  first time  our heeler  went  to round up her ridgebacks , 4 or 5 of them  , i apolagised , she just laughed , said its ok   he's only a pup , and there loving the running  ,  she was just has confident has her dogs were , in fact she was the first one who noticed he was no longer with me often ,  .

 

Dogs can sence when owners are scared or nervous ,  makes me wonder if there reactive to other dogs , or going into protective mode ,  plus its amazing how  dogs can quite often settle down and mix ok , when there off leash and just left to sniff , course you always get the odd one who spoils the party , but  if people know they have a biter they should stay away

[Loving my Oldies]

I agree with everything you have mentioned, @coneye.  I remember so well at some of the seminars/training sessions  I went to in the early days of my dog ownership.  Anyone who knew their business stressed the importance of training the owner more than the dog.  
 

I live on a street which many walkers (solo and with dogs) frequent.  It is both interesting and sad to witness the differences in people’s interactions with their dogs.  The worst are those who use retractable leads.  I know it could be seen as an extreme reaction, but I believe they are the worst thing ever for dogs and should be banned.  
 

Then there are those with their new puppies, don’t have a clue and carry the dog everywhere reacting inappropriately if another dog is a hundred metres away  You don’t need me to tell you how those poor dogs turn out.  
 

Some of the saddest (for me) are those who see a dog simply as an addition to their fitness regime and take no notice of the dog struggling to keep up whether on a lead or not.  Yes, it amazes me the number of people who think they and their dogs are above the law.  
 

Of course there are those who have been walking their dogs for years confidently and happily and the dogs just plod contentedly around the streets, totally conditioned to their circumstances.  
 

Sadly, people are heavily influenced by what they see in movies and online and have little or no conception of the amount of consistent training that goes into whatever it is the dog is doing.  They don’t understand that dogs aren’t born knowing how to walk on a lead or knowing what sit, drop, stay mean (in whatever the language of the person).  
 

One of the things I used to stress to new owners is that being on a lead is not a natural thing for a dog and that is was up to us to condition the dog appropriately.  
 

Not quite on topic, but I am looking after a dog while her parents are on holiday and I have never known a dog love her lead and harness so much.  She goes looking for them and takes them back to bed with her.   
 

 

[coneye]

I think your correct  , people do not relize a lead is not natural and just do not spend the time with them to teach .  I know  EVERY SINGLE PUPPY i have ever owned ,   has had a leash put on it for a short while   daily  just to drag around ,  get them used to it ,  every single dog   to start with has never gone out  unless on a leash with a big deal made out of  get your lead , get your lead , walkies ,  i have always spent a lot of time   teaching them lead time is fun time we go out , even going to the car , its lead on , get in car  lead off  , before we get out its settle and lead on , My  current dog  will rarely walk without his lead ,  , he gets excited , and wants it on , when  on my houseboat and out bush where he can go off and run around , he will not go off the boat  unless i put him on the leash and take him off . I can walk him out of the house , off the boat wherever , and  he just walks jumping up at his leash he wants it on

 

However i do use a retractable lead with him  , but  never on the road  , then its short  ALWAYS ,    on our own ,  on the beach i use it   because  he simply  will not    move away from me unless he's on it  crazy really , , but long leashes  ( usually  long long rope , tied to the leash ) i've always used    to teach a dog recall. .

 

I may also add this current dog is a small  little white fluffy thing ,  mixed breeed of  some thing or another , and not very strong , i have never and would never  use a retractable lead with  any of my previous dogs because they have all been large , them i just taught to love being on lead because it was fun and lots and lots of recall training

 

,  i think a lot of people  don't know the fun you can get from training your dog ,  to come , fetch , sit , down,  heel , ect ect . Got 8 grandkids  various ages , and the youngest ones now , love coming around  , and hiding  , while i send the dog to find them ,   and its something that the older grandkids used to love ,  when other dogs i owned  , used to do it with them ,

 

I used to do it with my boys when they were kids , tell them to hide and send the dog to find them , In fact i can go back to when i was a kid , and used to do it with my mates  , play hide and seek in the scrub and send my dog to find them  , always border collies , they were the only dog my old man would have in the house , people have forgot dogs are fun

 

Edited April 8 by coneye

[Ramesh]

Leash reactivity in dogs is increasingly common due to several key factors. Firstly, many dogs lack proper socialization during their critical developmental periods. Without positive exposure to various stimuli, they may develop fear or anxiety towards unfamiliar people, animals, and environments. Secondly, improper training methods can exacerbate reactivity. Owners may unintentionally reinforce negative behaviors by reacting with tension or frustration, which heightens the dog's stress.

 

Fear and anxiety play significant roles; dogs on leashes often feel restricted and unable to escape perceived threats, leading to defensive aggression. Previous negative experiences, such as being attacked by another dog, can also cause lasting trauma and reactivity. High-energy dogs that don't receive sufficient physical and mental stimulation can become frustrated, resulting in reactive behaviors. Additionally, a lack of proper leadership and guidance from owners can make dogs feel the need to control situations, often through reactivity.

 

Urban environments contribute to the problem, as crowded sidewalks, loud noises, and frequent encounters with other dogs can overwhelm some dogs. By understanding these factors and using positive reinforcement training, consistent routines, and ensuring adequate exercise, owners can help reduce leash reactivity and improve their dog's behavior on walks.