You’re walking your dog down the street, feeling hopeful about a peaceful walk — but then it happens again.Another dog appears in the distance, and before you can even process it, your dog is lunging, barking, and completely losing control on the leash. Your stomach drops, your face flushes with embarrassment, and you feel like you’re failing as a dog owner.
You wonder, Why does my dog do this?Why can’t we just have a normal walk?And is there something wrong with my dog — or me?
I want you to know: You’re not alone, and there’s nothing wrong with your dog. Leash reactivity (barking, lunging, or over-excitement when seeing another dog) is incredibly common — and it’s something you can change with the right approach.
Let’s break down why your dog is reacting this way, and more importantly, what you can do about it.
What Is Leash Reactivity, Really?
Leash reactivity happens when a dog has a heightened emotional response (like fear, frustration, or excitement) when they see another dog while on a leash.
This could look like:
Barking and lunging aggressively when they see another dog.
Jumping, whining, and straining on the leash to try to greet another dog.
Freezing and refusing to move when another dog comes near.
And here’s the key: Your dog’s behavior isn’t random. It’s driven by something. Our goal is to figure out what that “something” is, so we can shift their response.
Why Is My Dog Reacting This Way?
There are three major reasons most dogs struggle with reactivity on leash:
1. Frustration From Restraint ("I Want to Say Hi!")
This is the most common reason — especially in friendly, social dogs.
Here’s what happens:
Your dog loves other dogs and wants to greet them.
The leash prevents them from getting to the other dog.
Your dog experiences frustration from being held back.
That frustration explodes into barking, lunging, and over-excitement.
And unfortunately, the more times your dog experiences this frustration, the more intense their reaction becomes.
It’s not that your dog is “bad” — they’re just having big feelings about not getting what they want.
2. Fear or Discomfort Around Other Dogs ("I Don’t Feel Safe.")
For some dogs, reactivity is rooted in fear. Maybe your dog had a bad experience with another dog in the past, or they never had proper socialization growing up.
So when another dog appears, your dog’s brain screams: Danger! Protect yourself!
And since they’re on a leash and can’t create distance, their only option is to “scare away” the other dog through barking, lunging, or growling.
This can feel heartbreaking as an owner — because you don’t want your dog to feel afraid. But the good news is that you can build their confidence and help them feel safer in these situations.
3. Overstimulation ("I Can’t Control Myself!")
This one happens when your dog is naturally high-energy, excitable, or sensitive to their surroundings.
Every time they see another dog, their adrenaline spikes. It’s like their brain goes into overdrive, and they physically can’t control themselves.
It’s not that they’re being “disobedient” — their nervous system is simply overwhelmed, and they need help learning how to stay calm when faced with excitement.
The Pattern That’s Keeping Your Dog Stuck
Regardless of why your dog is reacting, here’s the important thing to know:
Every time your dog has a reactive outburst (barking, lunging, etc.) and the other dog leaves, your dog thinks:
“I made that dog go away.”
“That worked! I’ll do it again next time.”
Or, if your dog was trying to greet and didn’t get to:
“That was so frustrating! Next time, I’ll try harder.”
This is how reactivity reinforces itself over time. And if you’ve been experiencing this for weeks, months, or years — it’s not your fault. Most people aren’t taught how to handle leash reactivity properly, and the cycle just keeps repeating.
But here’s the good news: You can break that cycle.
How Do I Stop My Dog From Being Reactive?
This is where most people get stuck — because they think the solution is to simply “correct” the behavior or avoid other dogs altogether.
But neither of those solutions actually teach your dog how to stay calm when they see another dog.
The real solution is to:✅ Teach your dog how to feel calm and neutral around other dogs.✅ Show your dog what to do when they see another dog, instead of reacting.✅ Change their emotional response, so seeing a dog doesn’t trigger chaos.
And the best part? Once you do this, your walks become peaceful, your dog becomes easier to handle, and you finally feel like you can go more places together without fear of an outburst.
Where Do I Start?
Here’s a simple exercise to start changing your dog’s response:
Step 1: Start Noticing Their Threshold
The “threshold” is the distance at which your dog notices another dog but doesn’t react yet. Maybe that’s 50 feet away or across the street.
The moment your dog notices another dog without reacting, say “yes!” and reward them with a treat.
This teaches your dog that seeing another dog calmly leads to something positive.
Step 2: Gradually Close the Distance
Over time, you’ll slowly work on closing that distance while keeping your dog calm. If your dog reacts, you’ve moved too close too fast — simply back up and try again.
The key is helping your dog stay under threshold so they can learn.
Step 3: Redirect Their Focus
Instead of fixating on the other dog, teach your dog to look to you for guidance. This is where leash training, confidence-building, and calm mindset work come into play.
The goal isn’t just to stop the barking — it’s to completely shift your dog’s emotional response so they feel neutral around other dogs.
This Is Exactly What We Teach In Our Training Program
If you’re thinking, “Okay, but how do I actually do that without messing it up?” — that’s exactly what we help you with.
Our training programs are designed specifically for dog owners like you who:
Want calm, enjoyable walks without the chaos.
Want their dog to feel confident and neutral around other dogs.
Want to finally know how to handle these situations without second-guessing themselves.
And here’s the thing: Once your dog learns how to stay calm and look to you for guidance, everything else gets easier. Walks become peaceful. Adventures feel possible. And you finally get to enjoy life with your dog the way you always imagined.
If that sounds like exactly what you need, we’d love to help you get there.
You can change your dog’s behavior — and we’d love to show you how.
Final Thought: It’s Not Your Fault — But You Can Change It
It’s easy to feel like you’re failing when your dog acts out — but the truth is, you just need the right tools and approach to help them succeed.
Your dog wants to do better — they just need your guidance.
And once you give them that guidance, you’ll finally have the peaceful walks and enjoyable outings you’ve been dreaming of.
So don’t give up. You’ve got this — and we’re here to help every step of the way.
Your story could be like Sarah & Luna's !
"...Before training, we struggled with Luna's barking and jumping when greeting guests, leash reactivity, and general anxiety that made it hard for her to settle down. I was nervous to start because I felt embarrassed about needing help, but Val immediately made me feel comfortable. She was so patient and kind, and never once made us feel judged.
The training sessions became something Luna and I both looked forward to. Now, I feel much more confident in handling any issues that come up, especially after our recent move to a new environment. Walking Luna used to be stressful due to her reactivity, but thanks to Val, it's now an enjoyable experience. We can walk all around Portland with just a collar or harness—no more lunging, jumping, or barking!.."
Learn more about your trainer Val here
Val & the dogs at dog camp