The dog – man’s friend. A lot of people want their own dog. They associate it with a familiar connection, lots of exercises, and fun. But reality often looks different, so some pet owners reach their limits. If the dog barks, growls, and jumps uncontrollably on the leash as soon as it encounters other dogs or people, this indicates leash aggression in the dog. In this article, you will find out what constitutes leash aggression, how it develops, and what you as a dog owner can do about it.
What is meant by the word “leash aggression” in dogs?
The term “leash aggression” describes the sudden aggressive behavior of a dog on a leash as soon as it sees strangers or dogs. Leash aggression does not look the same in every dog but differs in the degree of severity and the extent. Dogs that suffer particularly badly from leash aggression show typical characteristics in their behavior: They jump onto the leash with full force, growl and bark, are difficult to hold, and totally freak out as soon as someone comes towards them.
This behavior can be caused for a variety of reasons. There are dogs that behave aggressively when on a leash, both towards other dogs and towards people. Other dogs, on the other hand, only react aggressively to certain dogs, such as dogs of a certain breed, certain sex, or that one very special dog. Dogs that get along well with other dogs off the leash can become furious once they are leashed. Many dog owners no longer recognize their beloved four-legged friend from this point on. Going for walks becomes a daily challenge due to the dog’s leash aggressiveness.
Just because a dog is leash aggressive doesn’t mean it’s vicious or dangerous!
What is leash aggression?
A dog suffering from leash aggression will behave extremely aggressively when off the leash. Leash aggression is expressed in a dog by barking, growling, and violently jumping on the leash as soon as other dogs or people approach.
Why does a dog develop leash aggression?
Aggressive behavior in a dog on a leash can be caused by a variety of reasons. Dogs are generally peaceful animals that foster friendly intentions. They communicate with each other using signals such as sitting down or making a move or sniffing each other. However, if a dog is kept on a leash for a short time, this species-specific communication is hardly possible. Because the dog is denied contact with other conspecifics, it reacts with frustration. Young dogs in particular are inquisitive and curious. They want to sniff, challenge, and play with other dogs. It can happen that your own dog behaves unusually towards another dog and that a scuffle ensues.
This new situation makes some dog owners feel insecure, which is why they start avoiding such dog encounters and associate walks with stress. The emotions of the stressed person are perceived by a dog, which is why he starts to defend himself even earlier. Many factors can therefore promote aggressive behavior on a leash. The leash itself is often the source of leash aggression.
Originally, dogs were free-ranging and free-roaming animals capable of avoiding each other. However, the dogs that live in our society are kept on a leash and cannot avoid other living beings. The forced contact with other dogs can lead to confrontations that a dog perceives as negative and associates with the leash. If owners do not fend off the “potential danger” in the future and a dog cannot flee, it uses aggressive behavior as a kind of protective mechanism. The leash is thus linked to frustration and negative experiences.
But not only bad experiences, but also a lack of experience can promote aggressive behavior on the leash. If a dog finds itself in a situation that is new and unfamiliar to it, the reaction can be unsettled and aggressive behavior. Also, some dog breeds tend to develop leash aggression faster than other dogs. This is because they have a genetically predisposed protective instinct. Among other things, frustration, fear, and insecurity are decisive components that allow leash aggression to develop.
What is the trigger for leash aggression?
Dogs adopt aggressive behavior because they have had bad experiences in the past or simply little experience. The emotions of frustration, fear, and insecurity are often the origin of aggressive behavior.
Leash aggression in dogs – prevention and treatment
It takes consistent training and a lot of patience to break a dog’s aggressive behavior on a leash. With the help of a few tips, the behavior of a dog can be better understood, so that the dog owner can work with the leash-aggressive dog in a success-oriented manner.
1st tip: Try to find the cause of the leash aggression in the dog
A dog’s unwanted behavior can only be trained off once you understand why the dog is showing it in the first place. To get to the bottom of the cause of leash aggression, it can help to ask yourself the following questions:
Does my dog only show such aggressive behavior when on a leash or when running free?
Does my dog respond to a specific dog or gender?
Has my dog been hurt or attacked in the past?
Has my dog shown this aggressive behavior since I’ve had him or has it developed over time?
These questions will help you understand when the dog started showing this behavior while on a leash. Once the cause of the leash aggressiveness has been clarified, you can start to actively work against it.
Tip 2: Reverse the dog’s negative feelings about leash aggression to positive ones
Dogs who have had bad experiences on a leash usually associate them with negative memories. In order to reduce a dog’s leash-aggressive behavior, it can therefore be helpful to reverse these negative associations into positive ones. This is achieved by replacing the old memories with new positive ones. Such a scenario can look like this:
You walk your dog where you might meet other dogs, but you can avoid them if necessary. As soon as a dog approaches from a distance, you draw your dog’s attention to you with the help of a treat and your voice. If your dog’s attention has shifted away from the other dog, you reward him. Then you increase the distance to the other dog again. You should repeat this process as often as possible until the dog has understood: If other dogs approach, I get a treat. In this scenario, the treat is used to positively reinforce the desired behavior.
3rd tip: Keep your dog occupied when it comes to leash aggression
A dog’s leash-aggressive behavior can also be controlled with the help of distractions. The distraction comes from asking the dog to do something before it even has a chance to freak out. In the confrontational situations, dog owners should give the dog a command that the dog has already learned and which it is happy to carry out. Sooner or later the dog will show the desired behavior all by itself because it has learned: If a dog approaches, I have to make room.
4th tip: Transfer the rest to the dog
Many dog owners already know that the human mood can be transferred to the dog. However, walking a leash-aggressive dog is no fun for the person on the other end of the leash. On the contrary – dog owners usually associate stress and a feeling of shame with the daily walk and especially with encounters with others. This stress is reflected accordingly in the behavior of the dog, so that both of them can no longer enjoy the actually relaxing walks. Dog owners should therefore reflect on their own behavior during the walk. Dog handlers should show self-confident behavior, especially with dogs with leash aggression.
During the walk you should:
- Focus on being an authoritative person for your dog.
- Concentrate on your breathing and stay calm
- You make beautiful thoughts also appear self-confident to the outside world. A nice smile usually helps.
A self-confident appearance gives the dog security and takes away the feeling of having to protect its mistress or master. This also helps to relax the dog on the leash.
What really helps against leash aggression?
To get leash aggression out of a dog, only permanent training helps. A harness is best suited for this training so that the dog cannot hurt itself. It is important that the dog does not see the leash and other dogs as a danger. The distraction during a walk and the creation of positive links plays an important role here.
5. Tip for leash aggression: Get your dog’s focus on you
Dogs that are aggressive on a leash need constant distraction while out for a walk. While this may seem like quite a hassle, this strategy leads to a simple solution to the problem. The easiest way is to get the dog’s attention fixed on you. When dogs give their owners undivided attention, everything else to do with the dog takes a back seat. Thus also other conspecifics who would favor the leash-aggressive behavior of their own dog.
Dog owners can get the dog’s attention through all sorts of tasks. Running around trees, looking for a treat or retrieving an object can keep the dog cognitively busy for a longer period of time.
Tip 6: Avoid the problem of leash aggression in dogs
Some exercises will help control the dog’s leash aggression. However, there are also exceptions where no trick in the world seems to help. Some dogs just have that one nemesis they just can’t get along with. The only sensible solution is to do what is normally discouraged. Namely: Avoid the problem. To avoid getting into ugly situations in the first place, you should talk to the owner of the other dog to find a solution that is comfortable for both parties.
7th tip: Get help from a professional
The support of a specialist helps immensely in solving the problem. They usually have a dog themselves who can help with the therapy of the affected dog. A dog trainer’s dog is usually dressed in a strong costume and handles tense situations well. Since the training is planned with a specialist and the behavior is deliberately provoked, the training is a safe solution that is better controlled by all parties.
In general, it is individual for each dog and each person, with which type and intensity the training has to be carried out in order to get rid of the leash aggression in a dog. What is certain, however, is that bans do not lead to the desired behavior. Since leash aggression is based on the dog’s emotions, it is important that dog owners act in a goal-oriented manner and in the interests of the dog. Leash-aggressive dogs must be given the opportunity to do something else in difficult situations. What this alternative looks like is up to each dog-human combination.
How do I distract my dog from other dogs?
To distract your dog from others, you should keep enough distance from other dogs. In addition, you should quickly pass other conspecifics and distract your dog with commands or tasks. Your dog’s attention should be entirely yours.
Leash aggression in dogs – the right equipment
Curing a dog of leash aggression takes a lot of time and patience. Not only the training helps dog owners to get along with the dog better, but also appropriate equipment. Dog owners should think about whether a collar or harness is the right choice for their four-legged friend. Most dog trainers recommend a properly fitting harness for a leash-aggressive dog. In situations where the dog sees a fellow dog and jumps on the leash, a collar would become too dangerous. Due to the fact that the dog cannot breathe and feels pain at this moment, it links the negative consequences with the conspecific and not with its behavior. This encourages leash aggression.
In addition, a 3-meter leash (without extension) makes sense so that the person can practice handling the dog on the leash first. This allows him to understand how the dog reacts to his actions.
