How do you stop a reactive dog from reacting?
Anabelle Smith
2025-08-01 12:19:10
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: 18
We support the LIMA approach to dog training. We work hard on shifting focus. When I check the Internet on how to handle a reactive dog when it reacts, all the articles talk about the work that you have to do that the dog doesn’t react. I need to handle the situation better when it happens.
Major Bechtelar
2025-07-22 21:49:12
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: 6
Dogs can be reactive to a range of triggers and it’s important to recognise which ones your dog is particularly reactive to. Recognising your dog’s threshold around the specific trigger is important, threshold means the distance at which your dog can remain non-reactive away from the trigger. You can work out your dog’s threshold by monitoring their behaviour. As your dog starts to approach their threshold, you may start to notice more of these subtle behaviours before they begin to react. Recognising these signs will help you to manage your dog and move them away from the trigger before they start reacting. Once you can recognise your dog’s triggers and their threshold levels, you can begin to limit their exposure to the triggers. This will stop them from practicing the behaviour and help with training. You can avoid triggers by choosing alternative walking routes or times of the day you take your dog out. To help keep your dog calm and manage their reactivity, consider teaching them a ‘this way’ cue, this will help by giving your dog a call out cue that will essentially remove them from the area around the trigger.
Gloria Stamm
2025-07-13 12:39:33
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: 17
They don’t approach head-on and make hard eye contact unless a fight is about to start. Their forced body language, and our own, tell our dogs that we want to fight with one another. Most dogs don’t want to fight, so they display a number of behaviors designed to prevent it. These distance-increasing behaviors includes barking, lunging, or growling — anything to make the threat go away. A tight leash tells your dog you're stressed, making your pup more stressed in return. As a result, both dogs may start barking, switching from their flight instinct, to fight. Adult dogs, while patient with puppy antics, will usually start to discipline puppies once they reach 5-6 months. The discipline isn’t violent and usually takes the form of a bark or growl.
Norma Kassulke
2025-07-13 11:32:38
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: 16
If your dog feels fearful or anxious around other dogs or people, they may try to hide or get away from them.
If you encounter a trigger, calmly move your dog away, avoiding adding extra tension to the lead.
Try luring them away with a tasty treat or favourite toy to play with.
Reward calm behaviour.
Practice focus training to help them pay attention to you.
Learn to recognise your dog's body language, this will help you understand when they're feeling worried or frustrated.
Consistently use reward-based training methods and keep them on a lead when needed.
Choose quiet places and times for walks, when possible, to avoid triggers while you’re working on changing their emotions.
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