Lunges and barks at soi dogs on every walk. How to stay calm?

My two-year-old terrier mix goes crazy when we pass the street dogs near our lane. He barks, lunges and I'm scared he will hurt himself or one of them. Walking is now stressful. How do other people handle leash reactivity when soi dogs roam free?

3 answers

1. PSPriya Sharma· 2 weeks ago

   Try the 'look at that' game: when he sees a dog and stays quiet, mark it and give a treat. Don't let him greet them on leash. It takes a while, and some days go badly, but my dog now walks past the same group with only a glance. Keep it positive and don't give up.

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2. SCSomchai Charoen· 2 weeks ago

   Change the route or time. I walk mine early when the soi dogs are asleep. Also stay relaxed because a tight leash tells him there is danger. A trainer helped us for a few sessions. And bring really good treats for the walk, meaning something special that he only gets when he sees another dog and stays calm and relaxed.

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3. YTYuki Tanaka· 2 weeks ago

   Distance is your friend. Cross the road or turn back before he reaches the point of reacting, and reward him with treats for calm looks at the other dogs. Over weeks you shrink the distance. We use a front-clip harness for control.

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