Why I Don’t Like Asking Reactive Dogs to Sit Around Their Triggers
I am not a huge fan of asking a reactive dog to sit and look at you when they see a trigger.
Sitting and looking at you can be a difficult/stressful thing to do in a situation where the dog is already having a really hard time.
Having your reactive dog sit and look at you when they see a trigger can be a goal you work up to when your dog can better regulate their emotions. I don’t think it’s a productive training protocol to address the reactivity itself.
In the initial stages of reactivity training I use play as an alternative behavior instead of sit because…
It is a powerful emotional state that can reduce feelings of frustration, anxiety, and fear.
It promotes cooperation and learning better than sitting and staring at you. Many dogs don’t want to sit, but they will want to play. Expecting a sit can cause unnecessary conflict between you and your dog while play can open an opportunity for cooperation and fun.
It assists in recovery from stress. This reduces trigger stacking and helps your dog “end on a good note” which is important for strengthening neural pathways in their brain that promote emotional regulation skills.
For many dogs, forcing them to sit suppresses their feelings, while playing with them helps them shift their feelings to a healthier place.
I also make a point to let the dog look at the other dog repeatedly when training because…
Letting the dog look at the other dog, get a little stressed, and then get redirected back into a game is a crucial sequence in shifting neural pathways that promote emotional regulation skills.
For most people their long term goal is not to micromanage their dog with obedience but to rather have their dog regulate themselves when they see a trigger. That is an impossible goal to get to if they are never allowed to look at the trigger.
The video below is a typical example of what leash reactivity training looks like for us at the initial stages.
The reactive dog is far enough away from the trigger that they are not immediately escalating to barking/lunging (other dogs walking by the white fence.)
They are on a long leash so they can move more freely with less restraint from the leash (restraint causes frustration which leads to reactivity.)
They are playing a game and given a few opportunities to look over at the trigger during the game.
The priority is on helping the dog shift to a healthier emotional state, not on trying to control their behavior.
Play can be whatever types of play that works best for you and your dog.
Gigi (from the video) loves food chasing, she’s made huge progress from losing her mind anytime she even heard a dog to being able to watch them walk by her yard. Now that she can regulate herself better through play it is time to start moving her closer to other dogs, adding in obedience like sit, down, stay, heel etc and punishing her if she does choose to react.