Would you like to deter reactive dog behavior from the start? Investing in Houston puppy training may help you avoid having to figure out how to train a reactive dog in the future.
If, however, you already have a reactive dog on your hands, you might struggle to decide what to do next. You may even wonder whether it’s worth trying to train your dog to behave better from now on.
Thankfully, you can take steps to calm down your dog and improve their behavior, both at home and in public. Take advantage of these tips for training a reactive dog.
Identify Your Reactive Dog’s Triggers (and Steer Clear of Them!)
Reactive dogs aren’t reactive for no reason. They typically have at least a few triggers that set them off and cause extreme behavioral changes when exposed to them.
Trigger identification should be the first step for those figuring out how to train a reactive dog in Houston, TX. Common triggers for reactive dogs include:
- Other dogs
- Loud sounds
- Certain people
Your goal should be to identify all your reactive dog’s triggers and keep them away from these triggers until you equip them with the right tools to manage their reactions more effectively.
Pay close attention to your dog’s body language if and when they encounter these triggers. This should help you determine which triggers appear to impact them the most.
Avoid Yelling At or Punishing Your Reactive Dog Unnecessarily
Your reactive dog won’t take kindly to being exposed to triggers. If, for example, you’re walking them and they see another dog, they may begin to bark incessantly until this dog is out of sight.
Your reactive dog’s behavior might sometimes upset and even embarrass you. This may tempt you to yell at your dog and potentially even punish them for reacting to triggers.
Feeling frustrated when your reactive dog loses their cool is natural, but you don’t have to allow your emotions to get the best of you. Resist the urge to yell at or punish your dog since this could make a bad situation worse.
Yelling at your reactive dog or implementing another form of punishment may further overstimulate them and trigger even more reactions. Your reaction to your dog could also damage the trust you’ve established and make them afraid to interact with you.
Use Counter-Conditioning To Desensitize Your Reactive Dog to Triggers
Counter-conditioning is one of the best desensitizing techniques for those trying to determine how to train a reactive dog in Houston, TX. It involves exposing your dog to their triggers and utilizing positive reinforcement to change how they view them.
For instance, if your dog reacts negatively to loud sounds by demonstrating fear and anxiety, counter-conditioning might help. You will expose them to loud sounds while providing them with treats to reshape the way they process these triggering noises in the first place.
Counter-conditioning will not work overnight. It might take weeks or even months to get your reactive dog to hear loud sounds and stop exhibiting their usual behavior.
However, studies have shown that counter-conditioning works when modifying a reactive dog’s behavior. It’s certainly worth giving it a shot to see how your dog responds.
Put Your Reactive Dog Through Calm Behavior Training Exercises
Once you start to see positive signs that suggest your reactive dog isn’t responding to triggers like they used to, consider trying calm behavior training. Work on getting your dog to respond to basic commands, such as “sit,” while in a controlled environment that exposes them to triggers.
You may also utilize leash control training to teach your reactive dog to remain calm in stressful situations. Help them master the leash-walking skills they will need to rely on to keep their cool when exposed to triggers in the world.
Once your dog successfully focuses and manages excitement when facing triggers on a leash, you will know they’re in a much better place. Just make sure you purchase a long leash to keep them under control if they still don’t react positively to certain situations.
Seek Assistance From a Dog Training Professional in Houston, TX
If you’ve spent your fair share of time around dogs throughout your life, you’ve likely encountered at least a few reactive dogs. This should make managing reactive behavior from a dog more manageable for you.
It will be a different story if you don’t have much experience with reactive dogs. You may not see the results you’re looking for in this case, even after learning how to train a reactive dog in Houston, TX.
Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you can’t help your reactive dog. You should hire a professional dog trainer in Houston to assist you. They will use their expertise and experience to help your dog.
A great dog trainer will follow many of the steps we just laid out. They will also practice patience while giving your dog the time and attention they need to modify their reactions to triggers.
But above all else, a dedicated dog trainer will teach you how to care for a reactive dog and put them in a position to overcome their triggers once and for all. This could be the key to you and your dog forming an even tighter bond than the one you already have.
Let Us Provide You With a Patient Houston, TX, Dog Trainer
Are you facing one challenge after another while trying to train a reactive dog? At Peace Love Dogs, we understand how frustrating this is for dog owners.
You want your pup to live a happy, fulfilling life, but this is often difficult for reactive dogs. We will show you how to train a reactive dog in Houston, TX, so they can face their triggers head-on without blinking an eye.
Touch base with us today at (346) 639-3629 to learn more about seeking training services for your reactive dog. We will also speak with you further about getting a dog to trust you when they are reactive.
