Pro Tips for Walking a Dog that is Reactive

Walking your dog is something that should be enjoyable. It is important that you get to have some fun time with your dog, enjoying the outdoors and breathing fresh air. However, not all walks end up smooth like you expected them to. If your dog is reactive; you can expect that some walks will end up being a nightmare. There are some dog walking tricks that you can use to have a peaceful walk regardless of whether your pet has always been reactive or has started being reactive due to a recent bad experience.

Don’t React
You may be walking your pet when another dog turns up unexpectedly, and your loving pet turns into a snarling, growling pest. There is no way that you can for sure know how the dogs are communicating, but you can bet that they are not blowing kisses. Most dog owners will react by panicking especially if there have been past experiences. If you remain calm, you can sure bet that your bet with taking it easy quickly.

Plan Ahead
If you sight a dog approaching, be quick to cross to the other side of the road to avoid any contact between the two dogs. Your dog is still likely to react, but you have to keep walking away calmly and keep praise your dog if he remains quiet. If you happen to walk into a situation you were not prepared for, quickly turn back. Dogs often operate on the basis of out of sight, out of mind. If you are having difficulty getting your dog to walk away, encourage him to run a little and praise him as soon as his attention is facing forward, and he’s keeping up the pace.

Get his Attention
Sometimes, the only way that you can get your dog to calm down is by getting his focus. If you see another dog coming your way, pull your dog to one side and start practicing the lessons you have learnt. Have he sit and stay while focusing his attention towards a treat. If your dog is still likely to react, consider blocking his line of vision until the other dog passes.

Have the Right Equipment
There is no need of walking a reactive dog if it’s liable to slip off its lead. Ensure the security of your dog when you are walking him. The two hounds design dog harness ensures that your pet does not pull and prevents them from escaping easily. It offers a secure way of ensuring that you have better control over your dog if anything happens.

The Reason Behind Your Dog’s Reaction
You most definitely know your dog better than anyone else, so it is likely that you can understand his body language. Knowing, why your dog reacts, helps you address the problem better.