Of course, it is not your dog's fault. They are acting in response to an emotion – that might be fear, anxiety or frustration – and, when they react, that can make them feel better in the moment so they keep doing it. But we can teach them a better way to respond that also feels good.
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.
Dogs will only display their true feelings with people and at places where they feel safe. So when a friend takes your leash, or the vet, or anyone else, and your dog doesn't react it is not because they behave better with someone else. It is because they do not feel safe with that person. They feel safer with you!
The time it takes to calm a reactive dog depends on many factors so there is not a definitive answer. Fearful and over reactive behavior will not go away on its own. The dog will not grow out of it. Left untreated, both the frequency and the intensity of the problems will increase.
Do not punish. Punishment won't help and, in fact, will make the problem worse. If the reactivity is motivated by fear, punishment will make your dog more fearful, and could lead to aggression.
If you have a young reactive/fearful dog don't look for opportunities to “socialize” them without a proper plan. Your dog should not be around other dogs straining at the leash (or off leash) to get to your dog no matter how well-intention the other dog is.
Don't: Go off-leash
You should never take your dog off-leash to see if they are reactive or not. This can put you, other people and animals in danger. If your dog does react, you won't have a way to bring them back under control quickly, which could result in a nasty conflict or injury to another party.
In most cases, the best way to get a reactive dog ready for socializing is to slowly expose them to their triggers in a controlled environment and reward them with natural dog treats until they no longer react so strongly.
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. After that time period, you should be able to substitute negative reactions with positive thoughts.
Tugging on the leash or keeping it too taut will only make a reactive dog feel more trapped. Creating a safe distance and using barriers are much more effective. Do not overload your dog. If your reactive dog is exposed to too many triggers in too short a period, they will likely feel overwhelmed and react.
To change your dog's response to other dogs, start working with your dog, standing still, at a distance where he can see another dog without reacting and where other dogs aren't walking toward you. You can try this exercise, for example, at the edge of a lot where dogs get out to go to a dog park or pet store.
Reactive behaviors usually crop up in adolescence around 6 to 18 months of age and tend to get worse as the dog reaches social maturity around 2 or 3 years of age. Your pup will not “grow out of” this behavior.
For a reactive dog—and, frankly, for any dog—these collars and leashes are dangerous and likely to make the problem worse. Instead, you'll want to walk your dog with a harness and a regular 5-6 foot nylon or leather leash. The best body harness for a reactive dog is one that clips at the chest instead of at the spine.
Reactivity is very common: Our own research shows that 75% of dog owners say they have a dog that shows some signs of reactivity.
Adding a second dog into a reactive dog household is quite possible. It takes some planning, patience and organization. It certainly can't be a whim but there is definitely hope if your goal is to get a second dog.
However, experts have explained why you shouldn't shout at your dog, and that shouting can actually do more harm then good when trying to teach your pup to be well behaved. In fact, not only is it likely to make them naughtier, it can even lead to even stress and depression.
Dogs considered highly reactive also include the Boston, Fox, Cairn and Yorkshire Terriers, Pekingnese, Weimaraner, Pug, Irish Setter, Shetland Sheepdog, Shih Tzu, Poodle, Bichon Frise, Springer Spaniel, the Westie, Chihuahua and the Dachshund.
Hold your dog on a loose leash; a tight leash can heighten reactivity. Treat your dog when he walks next to you; if he pulls on the leash or crosses in front of you, stop walking. Use a treat to lure him back to your side. Walk toward the other dog at an angle or perpendicular to the other dog, rather than head on.
If the dogs are not showing any negative behaviors, reward them with treats just for seeing each other. For example, when the dog you're walking looks at the other dog, you can say “Good boy!” in a happy, friendly voice and give him a treat. Repeat often.
Teach your dog basic obedience; sit, down, come, let's go and place. Your dog should learn to do these commands with distractions. Your reactive dog needs rules; stay off the furniture, no more sleeping in bed, no leash pulling, wait and door, quiet on command.
To build your dog's confidence in a more general way, provide them with enrichment activities and relationship-based training. Simply feeding your dog via food puzzles and getting them involved in nose work (which, by the way, is fun for both dogs and their people) can make them more confident.
Desensitization is a technique that is often used to modify the way a dog behaves in response to things that frighten her. To desensitize your dog, you'll need to provide a positive stimuli (usually treats) while she's exposed to the frightening trigger to help switch the negative association to a positive one.