My dog growls and lunges at other dogs on walks. What can I do?

Question

My rescue phoebe is a wonderful house dog but when we go for walk she gets aggressive when we see another dog coming our way , lunges, growls and can’t calm down . She seems to be on alert whenever we go outside. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks so so much. She 7 year old yorkie, blind in right eye also , female . Thanks. Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Female | spayed | 6 years and 3 months old | 10.8 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

This is a very common problem, and one that is best solved with a trainer or veterinary behaviorist that can help you in person. Leash reactivity can be due to a number of things including fear, lack of socialization, bad experiences, etc, so a trainer that can observe the behavior and get you started on a training plan is best. If Phoebe is also blind in one eye it could be that other dogs are taking her by surprise, leading to the reactivity as well. Most trainers will utilize a technique called BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Training) that involves a combination of desensitization to the stimulus (other dogs on leash) as well as gradually getting your dog used to them from a safe distance at first, until they are gradually calmer and able to handle it. Until you can talk to a trainer, giving other dogs a wide berth and changing up your walks can help prevent any fights or upset from happening. If she does walk past a dog calmly, lots of praise and treats are good as well!

My dog growls and lunges at other dogs on walks. What can I do?

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