how to stop dog from lunging at strangers

The good news is that I’ve seen most people make things significantly better as long as they are armed with basic knowledge of canine body language, learning science, and practical handling skills. How to Stop Dog Barking Out Windows. By teaching your dog that growling isn't acceptable behavior, you're taking away its ability to warn you that it may bite. The goal is to make yourself, the treat, or the toy more interesting than whatever has gotten your dog's attention. Rather you are going to find a spot where you can safely watch dogs from a distance where your dog WILL NOT lunge and bark. Keep your dog on a leash while practicing this technique to ensure everyone remains safe. If you live in an urban setting where this is difficult, you may need to structure your walks during this week at times when not as many dogs are out (also known as the 5am club). It's also important to stay calm when your dog lunges and never yell at or hit your dog, which can actually make the lunging worse. Over time, the space required will shrink. Once your dog goes to “his place” easily, add a verbal cue that you will be able to use in the future. Well that depends on what you mean by fix. Sit calmly with your dog in an area a little way from the door and get them to sit or lie down. The value of the food is hugely important, and your progress will be severely limited with basic dog store treats (even if your dog eats them). That 5-foot piece of rope can really complicate things and can get in the way of natural social and avoidance behavior that a dog is more likely to choose if they had off-leash freedom. You can also use treats and toys to train your dog to sit when people enter your home and stay in the same place until released by your command. Instead, purchase a strong and comfortable harness and lead and attach them to your dog. This both reinforces the new behavior and changes the physiological response that your dog has to seeing another dog (counter conditioning). We are increasing the amount of time that your dog looks at you by reinforcing this behavior. Gwen has some nice suggestions. References. Humans have an attention span of around 15 minutes. All rights reserved. To stop your dog from barking at strangers, let it bark 3-4 times, then stand over it and calmly give it the command, “Quiet.” Go to your dog and gently hold its muzzle closed with your hand and say “Quiet” again, then release its muzzle and step back. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, https://www.akc.org/subscription/thank-you. Other dogs need lifelong management, and that’s ok! Again, if your dog or puppy is lunging aggressively at strangers, we’d strongly recommend seeking professional help. We make special efforts to ensure our beloved pets remain healthy and happy. Don’t worry if your dog only performs the behavior a few times and resist the urge to prompt your dog; we want to capture (reinforcing naturally occurring behavior) check-ins. Then, try to avoid the things your dog lunges at or find a way to block your dog's view so it can't see the car or person. Your dog is lunging and barking until the dog is a good half block away. Simply ignore naughty behavior and don't reward your pet with treats. The good news is that the general approach is the same; we need to change the physiological/emotional response when your dog perceives another dog AND we need to teach them what they need to do instead that performs the same function as the lunging and barking behavior. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. Reducing his fear is essential to changing his behavior. Note: it will generally take 3 to 4 days for your dog to habituate to a head halter. Mark and reward and resume the game. By using our site, you agree to our. Generally speaking, dogs will fall into two categories: 1) Dogs who are lunging and barking to create space from the other dog. If your dog displays these behaviors, at guests when they enter, your dog may be shy or fearful of strangers. A professional dog trainer can help you with this technique as well as provide additional tips and tricks to keep your dog from lunging at cars and people. Repeat the sequence, only feeding and petting your dog when the other dog is present. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. As a dog owner, you probably get upset when your dog growls. 2) Dogs who are lunging and barking to get closer to the other dog. You now have super-human hearing and can hear a collar jingle from two blocks away, but you don’t hear anything. It’s always a process and may take time, but you should stay patient with your dog. There are several short-term fixes, such as avoiding the things your dog likes to lunge at, blocking your dog's view of the things it typically lunges at, and redirecting your dog's attention away from those things back to you. If your food is high value enough, your dog will start checking in with you more and more on the walk. Step 1. Keep your dog on their leash and play with a toy, toss a ball/stick, anything that will distract them from the approaching stranger. Say the QUIET command and wait for at least two seconds before rewarding the dog with treats. The best tools for training your puppy to stop barking at strangers are toys to act as distractions and treats to reinforce a more appropriate behavior. This is never a good idea. In this case, the dog thinks that the dog gets closer because of their lunging and barking (and it can create a lot of frustration if they can’t access the dog). After spending nearly 10 years in the dog training world and helping thousands of owners and their dogs in New York City, I can promise you two things; you are not alone (this is a VERY common behavior issue), and the behavior is likely not your fault (though you are the path forward!). He’s currently a master’s candidate in Animal Behavior at Hunter College (CUNY) and is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. We want your dog to be able to watch dogs without reacting (desensitization). Now when your dog sees other dogs, you are more likely to get check-in behavior! You tentatively leash up your dog, put on your treat pouch and get ready to leave the house for the dreaded daily walk. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. Keep a rough track of the percentage of dogs that your dog can walk by without lunging or barking. Before you can do anything, your dog perceives the tension in the leash and starts looking around with his assassin stare and spots him! At a time of your choosing – ideally when the dog is most likely to start barking – provide them with their favorite tasty nibbles. No one deserves to be threatened by a lunging dog, even if your dog is behind a window. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The goal is that your dog is checking in with you 30 to 50 times per 15 minute walk. Finally, remember that “space is your friend”! First, I usually recommend this ONE exercise that when done properly, does three things: relaxes your dog’s emotional state when on the walk, builds a new default behavior to replace lunging and barking, AND reduces pulling. You may need to call in professional help, or you may want to discuss your dog’s antics with a vet to ensure that no medical complaints are at the root of the problem. This increases attention (so it’s easier to give direction if we need to), reduces pulling (which reduces frustration and anxiety that can come with a tense leash), AND we are relaxing the physiological/emotional state of your dog (therefore are less likely to perceive threat or feel frustrated). Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you, Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side, Browse the AKC Marketplace to find the right puppy for you, Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration, Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid, Managing Your Lunging & Barking Dog: A 3-Week Reboot to Get You on the Right Track, iy_2021; im_01; id_09; ih_17; imh_47; i_epoch:1610243271805, py_2020; pm_08; pd_28; ph_06; pmh_41; p_epoch:1598622100528, link-block; link-block_link-block; bodystr, pn_tstr:Fri Aug 28 06:41:40 PST 2020; pn_epoch:1598622100528. While you will have good days and bad days, you should notice over one to two months that you see a trend of improving behavior. While there are many theories on this, generally good behavior consultants and trainers want to understand the function of the behavior. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. To keep a dog from lunging at cars and people, start by keeping it on a leash made from a sturdy material, like leather or nylon, and make sure there's no more than 4-6 feet of slack. For this he’ll need both “sit” and “down.” When you come across a stranger and your dog gets too excited, walk a few feet away and begin practicing puppy pushups. 2) If your dog is lunging and barking at more than 50% of dogs, I generally recommend a well-fitted head halter (especially in urban settings). AKC actively advocates for responsible dog ownership and is dedicated to advancing dog sports. For week 2, you are not going to try to walk past dogs. Have your dog repeatedly sit, then lie down. Keep in mind this behavior can simply be frustration as well, determining the difference is another topic! Dog Lunging at Strangers and Other Dogs – Lunging on the Leash. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 16,157 times. If your dog lunges at passersby and cars that roll through the neighborhood, you may be looking for ways to change its behavior. You try to move your dog away but he’s locked in; waiting for the dog to get JUST a little bit closer and then WHAM! % of people told us that this article helped them. If you feel that you aren’t making progress (or you’re afraid your dog might hurt another dog or person), find a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant at the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants at http://www.iaabc.org/. As dog parents, we are well aware of the importance of nutrition and exercise for our dogs. Depending on the dog, your veterinarian may prescribe medication to help with the dog’s anxiety which allows the behavioral modification program to be more effective if the dog was previously too stressed to function. Continue doing this, dropping the treats along the path you wish for them to follow. For dogs nervous of other dogs, this replaces the function of avoiding the oncoming dog (when they pay attention to you, the dogs go away!). The first few minutes of the walk are calm with no issues to report. In the long run, it's best to train your dog to turn and sit when distractions are present. This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. These treats should be especially tasty or interesting for your puppy. I tried all of this, but he feels the need to jump on everyone he sees. We want your dog figuring this out on her own. To keep a dog from lunging at cars and people, start by keeping it on a leash made from a sturdy material, like leather or nylon, and make sure there's no more than 4-6 feet of slack. To prevent your dog from injuring someone else, take steps to keep him away from strangers or train your dog not to nip at them at all with positive, reward-based training techniques. It may be enough to simply put a fence around your property or duck behind a hedge when you see the mailman coming. In New York City, this usually involves finding a quiet street where we can hang out 20 to 30 feet from a busy avenue where lots of dogs walk by or finding a quiet spot in Central Park where we can see dogs walking on a pathway about 20 to 30 feet away. Chased-based lunging. I often say, its like the dog that chases the bicycle and then doesn’t know what to do when it catches it. This is usually the case for dogs who are sometimes nervous or anxious around unfamiliar dogs. Step 1 For improperly socialized dogs, aggressive behaviors can be a common problem, especially toward strangers. After a few seconds, have your friend lead the other dog away at which point you should stop giving your dog treats. If your dog jumps on you, you should slowly raise your hands out their zone, turn your back and walk away. On your walk, all you are going to do is the following; every time your dog checks in/looks at you (without you asking), you are going to mark (with a clicker or a verbal marker such as a “Yes” or “Good”) and THEN feed one treat about 1 second AFTER the marker. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. Before venturing out into the world your dog should know basic commands. Why is my dog lunging and barking at other dogs (or people or skateboards or…). and the cycle continues…. Just make sure your dog is always wearing its collar, that it is easy to hold and if your dog starts choking itself, you may want to loosen your grip. Your dog tenses and you see that his hackles are up (piloerection). To complicate things, some dogs will exhibit frustration around some dogs (say smaller dogs who they like to play with) and fear-related aggression around other dogs (bigger dogs that they don’t like to interact with). Now in this third week, you are ready to start resuming your normal walk. If you wait long enough, and you chose an appropriate distance, the exercise in the previous week will kick-in; your dog will whip his head around and check in with you! This gives you much more control and will generally reduce the intensity of reactions. Load up on about 50 small, pea-sized human grade meat or cheese treats. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Tip #1 – Dog Training Collars – Whether you are proactive on dog training or not, implementing a dog training collar on your dog will help to stop your dog from barking at strangers. If you are outside, always make sure he is on a leash. You always want to give enough space to set your dog up for success and help make it easier for them to make the right choice. I would like to add that 1 hour of anything is to much for a dog. Brian’s rescue mixed-breed dog, Sammy, is a top competitor in the AKC Rally program. Step 1: Are you using the right equipment? Building a foundation; the one exercise to rule them all. Even if your dog is lunging and mouthing only in play, the behavior can be surprising and painful. Important! Completely eliminating this behavior is almost never a realistic goal. Provide small treats the entire time the dog remains sitting. When they bark and lunge they perceive that the other dog is moving away *because* of their behavior (even though the other owner is just moving them by). The best way of treating aggression towards strangers is to prevent it by socializing your dog when they are young, exposing your dog to lots of different situations and people in a safe, controlled environment, and teaching your dog that strangers are not a threat to you or him. Founded in 1884, the AKC is the recognized and trusted expert in breed, health, and training information for dogs. This training tip is brought to us by Brian Burton, a co-founder of Instinct Dog Behavior & Training LLC in New York City. What can I do? RELATED: Training Dogs Polite Greeting Behavior. This exercise will help change your dog’s association with other dogs from “that’s scary; I want it to go away” to “dogs make good things happen.” Don’t expect perfection! Dogs that are triggered by bikes, people running, other dogs or skateboards, will often lunge in an attempt to chase the subject (object or animal).Most of these are simply displaying a chase response. You could also say “no” in a stern voice, but avoid physically punishing your dog. This will discourage pulling and give you more control than a back clip harness and also can eliminate the discomfort from certain collars (which can really get in the way of progress for some dogs). Your dog will stop barking at strangers once you say the QUIET command. If you're having a hard time getting the dog to turn to you when you say its name, use a squeaker toy or clicker in conjunction with the dog's name. When your guest enters your home, keep your dog sitting and close to you. This is the behavior your dog taught himself when barking at strangers through your window. The way you respond to your dog when she lunges and mouths can have a major … © The American Kennel Club, Inc. 2020. For dogs who want to get closer, it can teach them that there is a new fun game to play, or for some dogs, they can be allowed to greet dogs if they are acting appropriately (if your dog is friendly, and the other owner says it’s ok). If you only play fist-bump and Hansel and Gretel when one of your dog’s explosion triggers shows up, she will soon learn that these games predict trouble on the horizon. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Behavior that starts out as play can escalate into something more problematic over time. She is also a Member of the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011. Putting a stop to leash aggression in dogs is much the same as training your dog out of any unwanted behavior; distracting, treating and training. Try foods that he’s never had before or would not get on a typical day and save these treats for these special occasions. The goal of this week is to give your dog a chance to practice watching dogs from a distance AND to engage in their new default behavior (looking at you instead of lunging and barking). Each day during this week, you are going to find that spot and hang out for 5 to 10 minutes (set your watch). So why are you feeding your dog so much? This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Do not scold them, just calm them with affection and a soothing tone. Dog have attention spans of less than 4 minutes. Then, try to avoid the things your dog lunges at or find a way to block your dog's view so it can't see the car or person. Next, teach your dog simple verbal commands, like "sit" and to turn to you at the sound of its name, so you can control its behavior. After many days of practicing the QUIET command, increase the time between giving the QUIET command and giving the dog a reward. Wait a moment, then walk back in. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Keep-a-Dog-from-Lunging-at-Cars-and-People-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Keep-a-Dog-from-Lunging-at-Cars-and-People-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Keep-a-Dog-from-Lunging-at-Cars-and-People-Step-1.jpg\/aid9216771-v4-728px-Keep-a-Dog-from-Lunging-at-Cars-and-People-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"