Drama queens and divas — that’s what we call them at Pawsitive Tails. You’ve seen them out on your walks, I suspect every neighborhood in San Francisco has one, maybe you own one. But what exactly is a drama queen or diva? And more importantly, what can you do about it?
A drama queen or diva (DQD) is a dog on-leash and upon seeing another dog, will pull, lunge, spin, scream, bark, growl, snap or even bite the approaching dog. These dogs are also known as leash aggressive or reactive – meaning “readily responsive to a stimulus or occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset.” For DQDs, that stimulus can be any dog, and that stress can be caused by fear, frustration or a combination of the two.
Despite the incredible theatrics DQDs can display, many of these dogs’ behaviors are in fact motivated by fear. What’s to fear? A lot if you’re a dog who is uncomfortable with other dogs and has limited options to increase distance due to the confining nature of the leash. This discomfort may have been caused by aggressive dog incidents, missing out on socialization or just being unsure about how to interact with other dogs. Drs. Patricia McConnell & Karen London suggest this behavior could be caused by a learned association between seeing other dogs and the choking sensation of the collar – causing a reaction upon sight of the other dog due to the upcoming pain he will feel.
If you have a dog that puts on the show but those barks and lunges aren’t caused by fear, chances are your dog may be frustrated. There are plenty of reasons why a dog could be bursting at the seams on leash. He may really like other dogs, leading to excess excitement at the sight of other dogs. Others may be rough and tumble types that have a physical play style that lends itself to over-the-top meetings. Certainly if your dog can run up and pounce on his dog friend in the park, why should it be any different on leash? And if that’s the case, your dog could easily work himself into a tizzy if that darn leash keeps on preventing him from doing so.
If these behaviors and causes sound familiar, there is definitely help for you and your dog. First things first, we’ve got to get your dog on the right walking equipment – our favorites being head halters (ideally) and no-pull harnesses. By using them, you’ll have better control of the eyeballs and the weaponry on walks for training and safety’s sake. But don’t leave home without them; these tools won’t cause a loose leash walking epiphany when not in use. Poor walking skills are usually part of the problem with DQDs, so preventing your pup from practicing that unwanted pulling means everyone has a more pleasant outing with lessened arousal from your dog.
Don’t wait until you’re frustrated to tears by your dog’s misbehavior to get professional help. This issue can be straightforward to treat, but you’ve got to be ready to change your behavior – and put in the time to improve your dog’s. Good timing and mechanical skills are needed, and a qualified trainer or behavior consultant can help get you there. Whether it’s a class or private training, the approach should include learning new skills, instituting good management and using desensitization and counterconditioning techniques to change the way your dog feels about other dogs.
In the meantime, help yourself by not allowing your dog to practice leash tantrums. They will only make more work for you later on. Exercise for 10-15 minutes before going out to take the edge off and keep neighborhood walks short (10-15 minutes) to avoid frustration for you and your dog. Come equipped with plenty of delicious treats and save your mealtimes for afterward. If you do see another dog (but before he reacts), quickly feed a treat and swiftly move away. Avoidance is the best policy until your dog is prepared to deal with these challenging situations. Get a head start by checking out McConnell and London’s booklet, “Feisty Fido,” for impulse control exercises you start doing right now.
Lisa Gunter, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, is a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine and Professional Dog Trainer with Pawsitive Tails in San Francisco. Utilizing the latest in humane motivational training, Pawsitive Tails successfully helps owners and their dogs address a variety of canine behavior and training challenges including aggression, fear and anxiety. For more information, visit sfpawsitivetails.com
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