When you have reactive dogs, training must be a fun and rewarding experience. However, it can also be frustrating and time consuming when you do not know what to do. Your dogs behave in a variety of ways and they can get on your nerves quite easily. The good news is that there are a variety of reactive dog training tips that will help you control these issues.
A dog trainer once told me that the first step to having a well behaved dog was to understand why they react so negatively. He said that reactive dogs had a lower tolerance for pain and were often in the red zone. The dog trainer defined the red zone as the area of the spectrum where dogs explode emotionally. The dogs in the red zone are always in an emotional state of anger or excitement and cannot be tamed. In order to teach your reactive dogs to behave in the acceptable spectrum area, you must train them so that they are in the red zone all the time.
Other reactive dog training tips include making the training process fun for both you and your pet. By having a positive attitude, you will make the training process more enjoyable for your dog. You can use toys to help make the training session fun for both you and your pet. When they see you getting excited, their own natural desire to want to participate in the fun will help you reach success.
Another important tip is to always make sure that you always make eye contact with your dog while on leash. I know that many people think that by pulling on leash you are causing stress and hurting the dog, but you must remember that this is only the case if you have a large breed dog. If you have a smaller breed dog, then chances are that you will not cause any stress or injury to your pet because they are simply used to pulling on leash.
Many times if you are going to teach your dog some commands such as stand or sit, you should start by making them sit first. This is done by sitting down next to the command that they are going to be learning. Once they have sat down, you then move their left leg up on to the leash. You then move their leg slowly towards the red zone so that it is almost touching the ground. Your goal here is to get them to feel like they are almost touching the ground, when they are in the red zone.
When you go out for a walk and you see another dog sniffing around in your neighbor’s yard, you should not immediately jump out to play with your dog. First, you should understand that this is perfectly normal because most dogs act like this when they are in a controlled setting. However, when your dog starts acting aggressively, chances are they are feeling provoked. When you do step out to play with them, you should walk by their side. This is one of the best reactive dog training tips you can follow.
If you find your dog is in the position where they are anxious and their heart rate has increased, you should try to distract them by throwing a treat. I recommend using a treat that is high in protein such as a chicken bone. This will give them something to be excited about instead of being anxious over, which will help to reduce their anxiety level. The more anxious they become, the less control they will have over themselves and their body.
One of the last reactive dog training tips I have for you today, is to make sure that whenever you are taking your dog to another location, you always make sure that their leash is on. The reason why dogs lunging at other dogs is that they are anxious and they want someone else to put an end to that anxiety. Dogs don’t realize that they are doing this, however they do this. You should always make sure that their leash is on, and that they are within walking distance. I have found that if I wait for them to start lunging at another dog that I will soon have them sitting down next to me when they are ready to be handled. Your dog is what you make it, and with these tips you will be able to train your dog in no time flat.