Does your dog bark, growl at, and sometimes even lunge at other people and animals? If so, you might have what’s called a reactive dog.

The good news is that there is a big difference between a reactive dog and an aggressive dog. Reactive dogs might seem as though they’re going to get aggressive with other people and animals. But more often than not, they’ll be reacting to them out of fear and won’t do anything to hurt them.

That being said, you should put your dog through what’s called reactive dog training. This type of training is great for any dog that doesn’t like other dogs and people. It can help with any dog safety issues you may be having.

Here are some good do’s and don’ts of reactive dog training.

Do: Create a Consistent Routine for Your Dog

Dogs are creatures of habit. They enjoy doing the same things day after day and will often get anxious if you don’t set up a routine for them.

This will be especially true for reactive dogs. They’re going to be on edge all the time if you, say, take them on a different path each time you go to walk them.

You should try to set up a routine for your dog to make them feel more comfortable. This alone might make them feel less reactive than they would otherwise.

Don’t: Resist Making Important Changes for Your Dog

Does your dog run to the window every time they hear something outside and bark like crazy? You might like the idea of them protecting your home like this. But this could be causing them stress and result in them behaving erratically.

You can break this habit by making a very important change. You can strive to keep them away from any windows they can usually access to discourage their behavior.

Do: Invest in Reactive Dog Training Equipment

There are all kinds of reactive dog training equipment that you should try to get your hands on as soon as you can. Harnesses and crates are just two good examples of this.

Without this kind of equipment, you’ll struggle to carry out reactive dog training on your own. They will be essential components when you’re working on training your reactive dog.

Don’t: Put Off Hiring a Professional Dog Trainer

You might have success doing reactive dog training yourself. But you might also need to bring in a professional to carry out https://youtu.be/xcbws2c1nfs

They’ll know how to get the job done effectively. They’ll also be able to provide you with dog training tips that you can use once they leave.

Give Reactive Dog Training a Try Today

If you allow your reactive dog to develop too many bad habits from a young age, training them later on might be very challenging. It’s why you should put reactive dog training to the test ASAP.

You might be able to get even the most reactive dog to calm down. It’ll make your life and your dog’s life a whole lot better.

Get more useful tips on dealing with a reactive dog or an aggressive dog in the other articles published on our blog.