How to Stop Reactive Dog Barking at Dogs
If we got a nickel for every time someone told us, "The other dog wasn't doing anything; it was just looking at us, and my dog exploded,” we would have a LOT of nickels.
At Urban Pawsibilities, we've made it our mission to educate folks with reactive dogs that just because their neighbor's dog isn't barking doesn't mean it isn't doing anything provocative.
Read on to find out why your dog might be so reactive to other dogs.
Why Are Dogs Reactive to Some Dogs?
"The other dog wasn't doing anything" is rarely true.
When dogs freeze up and hard stare at creatures in their environment, they aren't doing so to come off as friendly. It’s actually quite the opposite.
Hard staring is not polite in dog language, and it is often met with distance-creating behaviors, like barking and lunging, from the dog on the receiving end.
So, while the other dog may not be barking, we still recommend that you redirect your reactive dog to avoid escalations when they receive hard stares from other dogs.
Most importantly, don't blame your dog when they react to another dog giving them the stink eye. 👀
How to Get My Dog to Stop Triggering Other Dogs
Now, if you are the person with the stare-prone dog, we’re not trying to suggest that you are responsible for triggering other dogs in your neighborhood.
But, what we are saying is, you could make more friends than enemies if you interrupted and redirected your dog when you see them starting to freeze up and hard stare.
This simple act of kindness can go a really long way, especially if you see these behaviors from your dog when out on a walk.
Dog Training Tip: Reward Your Dog for Not Staring
If your dog is the one hard staring at other dogs, consider training them to look away.
Check out this video of our Certified Dog Trainer, Emma, demonstrating how to train your dog to stare less at other dogs.
Practice rewarding your dog for looking at and away from other dogs, giving other dogs space, and not approaching other dogs on leash with your dog without getting express permission.
To incentivize positive behavior, we recommend bringing some training treats with you. We recommend attaching a treat trader pouch to make dog training easy while on walks!
Interested in Getting Professional Dog Training to Learn this Skill?
If you’re local to the PDX area, we’d gladly welcome you to come by our dog training facility for some dog training lessons.
We offer many different opportunities for your dog to learn, socialize, and acquire the skills it needs to navigate this world! Together, we can teach your dog to avoid hard stares to encourage them to make more friends.
If you’re not local to the Portland Metro Area, we encourage you to follow us on Instagram @Urban.Pawsibilities to learn tips and tricks from our Certified Dog Trainers.
