How to train your dog to not be aggressive at the dog park?
Haylie Ondricka
2025-05-31 01:07:50
Count answers
: 16
Teach them a Watch Me exercise, do this randomly throughout the day, start where there are no distractions, and your dog isn’t doing something else. Say their name enthusiastically and when they look at you reward them with a high value treat. Once they can do this reliably, practise this everywhere – always rewarding them.
Avoid places with many dogs, start training your dog the Watch Me exercise in a quiet place indoors where it’s just the two of you. Once you can do this at home, you can progress to the garden where there are more distractions from sights, sounds, and smells.
Distract them when meeting other dogs, start off a long distance from them – beyond the point where your dog would usually react, all you want your dog to do is look at you, and you will reward this. Always use high value treats to reward them for paying attention to you and not the other dog.
Practice is key, remember that patience is very important when training any dog and you shouldn’t expect instant results, it is about being consistent and training each step very slowly and practising a lot.
Give play opportunities, make sure your dog still gets a chance to play and interact with their chosen doggie friends, dogs are social and do enjoy having some ‘dog time’.
Use a long leash and avoid pulling on it, while you are training, you can use a comfortable harness with a long leash, this will allow your dog to have more freedom and practise your distraction training safely at a longer distance.
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