Reactive Dog (In) Class
I get a lot of inquiries about reactive dog classes, and my answer is always the same. I have owned reactive dogs and welcome reactive dogs in appropriate classes - but I do not offer “reactive dog classes’, where a bunch of reactive dogs are in the room to learn how to not be reactive. At least, not to start. Why?
Before I dig into that, what does a reactive dog look like? These dogs will often bark or lunge at other dogs or people on leash, or thrash like a fish on the end of the line. They may hide behind you when another dog or person approaches. Or they can be overly friendly. Yes, overly friendly dogs are reactive too. If your dog goes insane when they see another dog, that is just a less aggressive version of reactivity that can still trigger the same reactive response in the dog they are harassing.
1) A dog who is reactive is uncomfortable around dogs (or people for example). Regardless if it is fear, stimulus over arousal, or aggression, comfortable is not a word I would ever use to describe a dog reacting. Reactivity is part of the fight or flight response. It is incredibly difficult for a brain to form new memories when it is in that state. So although a dog may be executing a task, they may not be retaining as much as you think they are.
2) Reactive dogs, well, react. They are scoping out the other dogs, prioritizing that stimulus over their handler. I once ran a rally class after a show handling class - the mirror a student was using to see their stack was still up. Both reactive dogs in the next class saw their own reflection, assessed that dog as reactive, and reacted back. To their own reflection. In my experience, reactive dogs are often looking for a dog to react to (behaviour rehearsal). Our goal in class is to get them into a learning mental state and practice within that state so they rehearse the correct behaviour.
3) Energy/intent matching - calm begets calm and anxiety breeds anxiety. I am very close to several people who suffer anxiety attacks. Do you know what is not beneficial to someone suffering from anxiety/anxiety attack? You matching their anxiety, getting frustrated, or getting angry. Similarly with dogs, reactive dogs will set each other off, or make each other feel more uncomfortable. When a reactive dog is placed in a class with dogs who are calm and ignore the other dog, there is less for the reactive dog to react to. Even if they do react, the other dogs do not respond, which means that reactive dog can more easily revert to a calmer state.
My goal in a class is to match not only the experience level of dogs and handlers, but to match the energy of the dogs. To set them up for success by giving them the safety to learn, the right tools in their toolbox, and a ‘bento’ of learning experiences to take on the road. Often people with reactive dogs come to find that their dogs are not only unreactive in class, they can even compete in dog sports. Why? Because within those two contexts their dog knows they are safe and will not have other dogs approach them. Conversely, one of the more difficult places for reactive dogs is simply walking around the block, where other dogs may stare, bark, or encroach on their space.
That being said, some of my more advanced classes have been comprised of wholly reactive dogs. For example, I often have at least one agility class for reactive dogs. In these classes, the handlers are cognizant about distance, crating, line of sight, motion, and intensity both in their own dog and the other students. They are sensitive to the effect the other dogs have on their own dog and how their dog effects others. They are proactive about providing each other space or ask for more space. These formerly reactive dogs come to feel the class with these specific dogs is a safe place, and thus they do not react. Without reacting, they are no longer rehearsing the behaviour. And once they stop rehearsing the undesired behaviour, they will begin implementing the other tools in their toolkit like eye contact or disengagement.
So what does that mean for your reactive dog?
There is a place for you at TailWinds. Even if your dog is not ready for class, we offer privates to kick start your journey. Email us at TailWindsTraining@gmail.com if you have a reactive dog who needs training!