Reactivity is an emotional explosion caused by a trigger usually characterized by aggressive barking and lunging. The most common type of reactivity we see is on-leash and in response to another dog or person. This can be a frustrating and demoralizing behavior and it can have a ripple effect culminating in owners no longer feeling comfortable walking their dogs. The subsequent isolation only serves to enhance the reactivity. It can feel like a hopeless cycle to dog owners.
The First Reaction
Our first reaction to our dog’s outburst is usually one of scolding or disciplining the behavior. After all, in our eyes it’s unwanted conduct and we want to indicate this to our dog. When we look deeper and with a better understanding of dog behavior however, we see that it is actually big emotions that cause these outbursts. The emotions in question? Anxiety, uncertainty and confusion. And at the base of these is one thing: fear.
Reconditioning Responses
We, of course, cannot discipline emotions. That would be like someone saying to you when you are very upset: “Stop feeling that way!” Instead, we must change how the dog feels when faced with triggers. When we change the emotion from fear to one of confidence or calmness, the behavior disappears on its own. Why? Because the need for distance-creating bluster is no longer necessary. “That’s all well and good” you say, “but how?” The short answer is that we change emotions through reconditioning the response with something that releases dopamine in the brain. The most common tool to do this is food.
There are other factors to consider when embarking on re-conditioning reactivity, however. You must also determine your dog’s threshold. Threshold is the distance to a trigger at which your dog remains calm. For some dogs this may be 100 feet or more, but for most is 20-50 feet. Keeping your dog under threshold allows their brain to continue functioning normally. If your dog goes over threshold they go into a primitive state of fight/fight/freeze (in this case fight). Your dog in this state can no longer process instructions or redirection. They are physiologically ‘checked out’. At this point you must make more space to bring your dog back under threshold and be more aware of space the next time you encounter his or her trigger.
Food Pairing Triggers
If you are under threshold within the presence of a trigger it is at this point that pairing food begins. We recommend very small treats since you will be giving a lot of them. Eventually, the goal is to condition your dog to think ‘treats’ whenever they encounter their triggers instead of feeling threatened and emotionally explosive. When this is done correctly, you are causing a release of dopamine in the brain instead of adrenaline thus preventing the underlying problematic emotion that caused the reactivity in the first place.
How We Can Help
As with all dog training, this process takes time. It is nuanced and takes experience and understanding of the physiological processes the dog is undergoing in these circumstances. It is also important that the dog has good obedience under their belt so you can communicate in a way the dog understands. But reconditioning reactivity works, and it is life-changing for both dog and owner.
Highland Haven Dog Training near Danbury CT specializes in leash reactivity. Reach out today for a free phone consultation.
