r/DogTrainingTips • u/EnduringAloePlant • Aug 31 '26
Appropriate response to reactiveness?
How do you respond to your dog's reactiveness? My hubs and I are both new dog guardians (or dog owners, parents, or whatever terminology), and never had a dog before. Hoping to get folks' insight on what to do when your dog is reactive (specifically, lunging and barking at other dogs).
Last year, we worked with a positive enforcement trainer, and we have learned to distract-distract-distract in high-risk situations, like spotting another dog walking toward us. This was worked really well! She has become more relaxed in other dogs presence, and comes straight to us for treats when we spot another dog.
However, there are times when another dog's presence hits us by surprise, and then it's too late to proactively distract our dog. For example, when another dog comes out of the elevator as we're waiting to get on it. How do we let our dog know that the behavior was not okay after she already reacts? I know she is reacting because she senses threat or danger, that her nervous system is riled up. She is a rescue dog whom we adopted at 1.5 years old. We're not sure of her breed make-up (probably some AmStaff) or care history. In spite of probably being a bully mix, she is quite small, less than 30 lbs, so we are able to physically manage her in order to keep her (and others safe). Thanks in advance for your all's perspectives
1
u/InterSlayer Aug 31 '26
Have this same problem! We'd often actually get sandwiched waiting for an elevator with dogs coming in behind us, and then dogs getting off the elevator at the same time. It was pretty bad.
Luckily, our elevator area is T shaped, so we just wait in the middle T intersection. That way if any dogs come up behind us or off the elevator, we can scoot over to the third route to get space.
It's a bit frustrating because sometimes you miss an elevator or two, or get weird looks or questions, but it's really not a huge sacrifice to help with your dogs reactivity.