Dear Miss Behavin’: My dog seems to be the life of the party when we go to the dog park, but when we come across a dog on our morning walks, she barks like mad! What’s the deal?
While it may seem like she has split personalities, it’s not uncommon for dogs to behave differently on leash around other dogs than when they are romping freely at the park. The root of this issue can vary. A dog who is insecure in social settings can choose to walk away and avoid an interaction at the park. However, when that same dog is on leash and approached by another dog, she may behave defensively if she feels she can’t move away.
On the other hand, a social butterfly at the dog park can freely greet and play with any dog she sees. While leashed up on a walk, the excitement of a potential new friend across the street may become too much to suppress, causing her to bark, whine, and lunge towards the passerby.
In either case, walking your dog in a secure front-clipping harness and bringing along some tasty treats are good places to start. If you see a dog while you’re out, keep enough distance so that your dog notices, but is not yet reacting. Feed her the yummy treats while she looks at the dog calmly and quietly. This rewards your exuberant social butterfly for curbing her enthusiasm, and reassures your nervous Nelly that it’s not such a bad encounter. Over time, you will be able to move closer to the other dogs while keeping the peace with your own.
For more management tips and tools, consider Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA’s Bark and Lunge Club, a six week class designed to help owners understand and improve their reactive dogs’ behavior. For more information or to register for this class, visit http://furchandise.wixsite.com/behavior/product-page/bark-and-lunge-club or call 650-340-7022 ext. 667.