RELAX!!!!

Easier said than done when you have a potentially aggressive dog, but its VERY important. When I used to see another dog out walking with Ben, I would panic, tighten his lead and move him closer to me and to the other side of me depending where the other dog was heading. These actions were all making Ben think that there was something to be worried about. When I had Wrigley and I used to take him out on his own (he was great with other dogs), I would see a dog and automatically panic, it was that engrained in me. Then I realised I didn't need to panic as I was only walking Wrigley!

I definitely find that if I am relaxed, Ben is more relaxed. If I am scrambling to get his lead on and in a panic, it makes him more reactive. This is why I have started to keep him off lead more and more if other dogs are in the distance. He will look at the dog, look back at me for a treat and we will carry on. I am relaxed and he is relaxed. Leash reactivity is very common among canines, I have come across many dogs where their owners have said their dogs are better off lead than on around other dogs. The leash can make them feel restricted and trapped, especially if they are perhaps a little scared or nervous around other dogs.

In order to help myself relax, when I see another dog I think brilliant a training opportunity here, lets see how Ben does. I know that Ben is not as good with certain dogs as he is with others. It depends on their breed and their personality. I have a list in my head of the breeds he has never been good with so if I see one of them I will generally walk a different way so we don't have to walk past. But I still remain calm so I do not alert Ben and give him something to worry about. If its a dog I think he will be okay with, we carry on and use it as a mini training session thinking positively.

I am finally getting to a stage now where Ben is mainly leash reactive, this is a big improvement for him and me. It has took nearly two years to get to this stage, but one light bulb moment has definitely been to RELAX!!