About Dr. Carolyn Lincoln Veterinarian and Animal Behavior Specialist
2 Comments
Marian
on April 30, 2023 at 9:05 pm
How do I correct reactive dog behavior? Teddy is a two year old Jack Russell/Poodle mix. It is escalating to the point where he is now turning on my other dog because he is in such a frenzy. This happens on our walks. I have had dogs in my life for 50 years and this behavior and leash pulling make my walks very unpleasant!
I’m sorry to hear this, Marian. It’s good you want to take action now because at the age of 2-3 years, dogs become socially mature and it’s best to address it now. There are a number of things you can do and I’m sorry it’s too much to put here in a comment. I do cover that in my program. For now, to get started, it’s best to walk the dogs separately. I know that sounds like a lot of time but from experience, I can say that it gets easier and can be part of your routine. This will allow you to address your dog’s reactivity, build a stronger bond with the reactive dog and reduce the problem between your dogs. It’s also best to prevent behavior you don’t want so that you can instill new behavior easier and faster. So for now, providing an outlet for exercise besides walking would be best. I have a short course that can help you provide both mental and physical exercise at home in a small space. Here is a link: https://playtobehave.com/highenergy
I have practiced veterinary medicine in the Cleveland area since 1990, with behavior medicine as my primary interest. I help improve the behavior of dogs and cats through a variety of online courses. I also offer one-on-one and group behavior training sessions in the Northeastern Ohio area.
How do I correct reactive dog behavior? Teddy is a two year old Jack Russell/Poodle mix. It is escalating to the point where he is now turning on my other dog because he is in such a frenzy. This happens on our walks. I have had dogs in my life for 50 years and this behavior and leash pulling make my walks very unpleasant!
I’m sorry to hear this, Marian. It’s good you want to take action now because at the age of 2-3 years, dogs become socially mature and it’s best to address it now. There are a number of things you can do and I’m sorry it’s too much to put here in a comment. I do cover that in my program. For now, to get started, it’s best to walk the dogs separately. I know that sounds like a lot of time but from experience, I can say that it gets easier and can be part of your routine. This will allow you to address your dog’s reactivity, build a stronger bond with the reactive dog and reduce the problem between your dogs. It’s also best to prevent behavior you don’t want so that you can instill new behavior easier and faster. So for now, providing an outlet for exercise besides walking would be best. I have a short course that can help you provide both mental and physical exercise at home in a small space. Here is a link: https://playtobehave.com/highenergy