7 tips against leash aggression in dogs

 

With a dog that immediately jumps into the leash and barks furiously when a fellow dog approaches, a relaxed walk is hardly possible. Read here how leash aggression in dogs develops and how the dog and you yourself learn to master encounters with other dogs on the leash in a relaxed manner.

Leash aggression in dogs can take on different forms and degrees of severity. For the owner of a leash-aggressive dog, the walk quickly becomes an absolute stress situation when another dog appears in the distance. This is because in particularly severe cases of leash aggression....

... the dog freaks out completely at the sight of another dog
... jumps with all his strength into the leash
... is difficult to hold
... growls and barks.
Quickly you can also get into situations here, where it makes sense to be familiar with the current legislation around the dog.

Some dogs also react leash-aggressively only with certain dogs (striking color, size, certain sex), with others they are completely relaxed. Even dogs that are friendly to other dogs when running free and play amicably with them can be like a changed person when on a leash.

In the long run, leash aggression can become a very stressful problem for both dog and owner. To stop the dog's leash aggression, the cause of his behavior should first be clarified.

Causes of leash aggression in dogs

That the dog develops leash aggression can have very different causes. It is not always possible to find out which experience was so traumatic for the dog that he started to massively defend himself against other dogs on the leash. These causes are often behind aggression towards other dogs:

Bad experience on the leash: The dog was bitten, got hurt, is very frightened and has linked this traumatic experience with the encounter of another dog.
Lack of experience: the dog has had little contact with other dogs, he is insecure and feels restricted by the leash and threatened by the other dog.
Frustration: The dog desperately wants to go to the other dog, sniff it and play with it. Because he is not allowed to go, he reacts more and more aggressively (often the trigger for leash aggression in young, very playful dogs).
Mood transfer: The handler is tense, fears even the encounter with another dog, because he already knows what is coming. The tension is transferred to the dog.
Breed-typical predispositions: Dogs that are particularly bred to guard and protect are very territorial and can develop leash aggression more easily.
However, leash aggression is absolutely not an indication that the dog is vicious.

Seven tips against leash aggression in dogs.

Once the dog has developed leash aggression, it takes a lot of patience and consistent training to stop it. These 7 tips can help you do that:

1. clarify the cause of leash aggression.
When it comes to leash aggression, researching the cause is important. Answer the following questions and record the answers on a piece of paper:

Has the dog ever been attacked, hurt, bullied?
Does he show this behavior from the beginning?
Is it only certain dogs/genders he reacts to?
Is he so angry exclusively on leash or also when free running?
Write down everything you can think of on the subject. Maybe you'll have an epiphany while you're reading through it, and with it a possible solution.
2. commands direct from the situation.
Reconditioning a leash-aggressive dog takes time and patience. Most importantly, consistency and education. Instead of tugging on the leash, think of something you want the dog to do. Sit down, lie down, turn in a circle, give paw. He should be happy to do the command and already be able to do it flawlessly.

From then on, any expression of aggression towards another dog will be immediately followed by your sharp "No!", followed by a nice request "Sit, down, circle, paw ..." There are dogs that offer the alternative on their own after only ten to twenty such exercises. Others need longer to properly link: a dog comes, I sit.

3. meet other dogs in a friendly way
Turning a dog's negative feelings around can be a good method. You need endless special treats and a key word such as "Look at this" or "Hmm, yummy". Then it's a matter of finding routes that give you plenty of escape routes, but where there are still dogs in the distance, such as near a dog run.

Now they go off until a dog appears quite far away, and in the same second, at your key word, put the treat in the dog's mouth. Then you move away. After a few such exercises you pass the other dog a few meters closer and work again with code word and morsel. The purpose: your dog registers the other dog, which is still too far away for his reaction, and involuntarily associates it with something positive. It may take a while until he understands that another dog in sight means a treat.

4. stay relaxed
If you've been nearly knocked down by your dog a few times because it threw itself into a harness or collar, you'll be nervous on walks and scan your surroundings for possible dog encounters. The dog adopts the human stress level 1:1, tenses up significantly and prepares for the next attack. A spiral that only you can interrupt:

Consciously focus on your target, not the surroundings.
Breathe calmly and evenly.
Think of something beautiful.
Smile.
You will be amazed at the effect.

5. create more important tasks
Distracting leash-aggressive dogs is exhausting, but it also leads to solving the problem for some dogs. While walking together, permanently draw your dog's attention. It works like this, for example:

Walk around trees in pairs
Let the dog look for treats within reach of the leash.
If the dog likes to fetch, have him pick up and carry something now before handing it to you.
Important: The dog enjoys your undivided attention and vice versa. Other dogs become unimportant; the world now revolves only around the two of you.

6. avoid serious problems
If two males or two females are personally spider enemies, so your dog reacts aggressively only to this one arch-enemy, all exercises will not help. This is a special case. It is best to coordinate with the owner of the other dog and get out of the way if possible.

7. ask for support from the behavior trainer
Special training has many advantages. In a fenced area, dog encounters are never random, but provoked. Specialty trainers always have a peaceful dog with strong nerves who responds to on-leash aggression with equanimity. And they observe and treat not only the dog, but you as well. Before you are at the end of your nerves, special training under experienced eyes is well worth considering.

The right harness for leash aggressive dogs

The behavior of a leash aggressive dog will not change overnight. Even if you try to consistently stay out of the way of other dogs, another dog may suddenly appear. In addition to consistent behavior training, the right equipment can also help them maintain better control during encounters with other dogs.

Collar or harness for the dog?

Experts recommend a well-fitting chest harness for leash-aggressive dogs. If the dog jumps into the collar with all his strength when he spies a fellow dog, it can be harmful to his health. He feels pain and shortness of breath at that moment, but links it not to his own reaction, but to the appearance of the other dog. In addition, the dog is set up with pull on the collar forward upwards, which is additionally threatening for the oncoming dog.

The right leash

The leash for leash aggressive dogs should meet the following requirements:

It should be sturdy.
It should fit well in the hand.
It should be of a comfortable length.
The dog should be given enough space to sniff in a relaxed manner, but the leash should not be so long that he can immediately run away from a sudden encounter with another dog and pull the handler off his feet with his run. A flexi leash is unsuitable for leash-aggressive dogs, as it cannot be established quickly enough in dicey situations.

Does a leash-aggressive dog have to wear a muzzle?

For leash-aggressive dogs that like to pounce on fellow dogs, a muzzle can provide security. This way, the handler can be sure that his dog cannot hurt another dog, even if the leash would slip. Often it is enough that the dog handler is much more relaxed as a result and transfers this positive mood to the dog. However, before the dog is to set off on a walk with a muzzle, he must be slowly accustomed to wearing a well-fitting muzzle.