Your dog may be a stubborn walker because they fear some part of the experience, be it the leash, passing cars, or simply walking around outside their home. Desensitization is a lengthy process in which you introduce your dog to graduating levels of the stimuli that they fear.
If your puppy plops down on the sidewalk and refuses to walk with you, try to avoid the turn and face, don't drag him, and never, ever pick him up!
The more likely explanation for your dog's disobedience is that they're overwhelmed by the environment and simply can't focus. There are too many interesting things to explore, and dogs need to sniff them all. It's often not deliberate defiance.
They're anxious
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons dogs don't want to walk. They might be scared of the leash, the outside world, cars, noises, or people and pets they may encounter. They could even have had a past experience on a leash that scared them.
If a pooch is afraid of something in their surroundings, they may refuse to walk or keep moving. Young puppies who are going through their fear period and adult dogs walking in an unfamiliar environment commonly experience this (especially true if they tend to be fearful or anxious, or have a history of trauma).
Have a favorite person or dog stand on the sidewalk away from your home. That will give your puppy something exciting to walk towards. As a reward, choose a high value treat or toy that your puppy only gets on walks. Your pup will be tempted to walk to earn this special goodie.
By training a reactive dog you will learn more about yourself and your dog than you ever thought possible. So the answer to the question “can reactive dogs be helped?” is that yes, they can be helped, they can live a normal life and they are definitely worth the time and effort that goes into it.
A reactive dog is usually a fearful dog. Causes can be genetic, but they are more likely due to a lack of socialization, prior bad experiences or a lack of training. Aggressive dogs show similar signs but are determined to cause harm and destruction.
Interrupt your dog's jumping and guide them to an area where they cannot jump up on people or put them on a leash so you can better control the situation. You can ask them for a sit and then allow them to greet your visitors, or simply give them something else to do in their crate, pen, or puppy zone.
Use positive reinforcement.
You can reward the dog by providing tasty treats or by giving tons of affection. After your dog does something good, you want to reward it immediately in order to get the maximum benefit. It is also a good idea to reward your dog when they are behaving calmly.
OK—this one isn't necessarily your fault, but the way you respond to it can make a difference in your dog's behavior. Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months).
This kind of work can take anywhere from two to 12 months, as that's how long it takes for a dog to learn a new behavior.
The Dog Calming Code program helps establish the very foundation of dog training: the relationship hierarchy that dogs are programmed to seek. Dogs are pack animals. In the pack is where dogs find balance and purpose. Take it from them and they'll feel out of whack!
Puppies also usually become much calmer and mature between 1 and 2 years old. While many puppy habits eventually subside, reactivity unfortunately is not one of those.
Yes, dogs can get bored of the same walking route. Just like humans, dogs can get bored of the same walk day in and day out. Dogs love to experience new sights, smells and people! If your pup is acting out of sorts, it might be time to change up the same old boring routine.
Anxiety is caused by many things, some of which include lack of socialization, separation, aging, or genetic predisposition. If your pet is afraid, it can impact many aspects of their day-to-day needs, including exercise during those important daily walks.
The most effective treat will be whatever your dog loves most. For some dogs, a ball or a toy works just as well. At the first sign of anxiety, distract your dog with a treat (or toy) before the anxiety level gets high. Continue to move past the anxiety-causing stimulus while continuing to offer your dog treats.