Which tools do you use to walk a reactive dog?

These are three tools that are essential for successfully walking your reactive dog.

✅A y-harness:

Walking with a harness is much less stressful for a dog than walking with a collar. When the dog pulls with a collar on, all the pressure is put on his windpipe and larynx, furthermore, it can cause serious damage to the neck if your dog suddenly takes off.

Harnesses are better for your dog's body.

A y-harness distributes the pressure over the sternum and does not restrict the dog's movement, which a harness with a strap over the shoulders does. This is why I recommend walking with a y-harness.

✅The long line:

By using a long line of 5 metres, I give my dog room to sniff and move freely without tension on the line. Dogs that have a sense of control are less anxious than dogs that do not feel free during walks.

Most dogs that lunge on lead do this at the moment that there is tension on the lead. At the moment that your dog sees a strange dog, with a long line you always have some line left to give him slack in the line again, because of this he will experience much less stress in such situations and you will have a dog that is less likely to lunge.

✅High value treats:

Treats are very useful to get your dog's attention when he is fixated on a strange dog or another trigger.

If your dog is fixating on another dog, you can help him with treats to avert his gaze from the dog. Grab some treats and lure your dog away from the trigger. You can also scatter the treats on the ground. Your dog will see treats falling from the sky and think: 'Wow! A yummy treats party!' By doing these things, your dog switches his focus away from the dog and you have prevented him from lunging and barking.

Tommie wearing a y-harness and is walked on a long line