Desensitisation is a technique used in many situations where our dogs get sensitive to things that they’d normally cope with. This can be to noises, like fireworks or traffic. It can also be to people or even to other dogs. Most people start off with a dog trainer or behaviour consultant to help them. Whether…
Read more
Desensitisation is a technique that can help you if your dog is sensitive to the world around them. This is especially true if they are struggling with anxiety. For example, your dog may be very sensitive to you picking up your keys and they may start to panic. Perhaps they notice a strange appear over…
Read more
Many trainers will suggest using a method known as desensitisation if you have a dog who barks and lunges. If you’ve ever thought that your dog could just do with ‘getting used’ to things, then this technique is for you. Many guardians use this method of gentle exposure. Sometimes they do so alongside other training…
Read more
When we think of impulse control in dogs, many of us will think of the behavioural choices our dogs will make. We think of those ‘big’ behaviours. Perhaps they are quick off the mark. Maybe they react with more intensity than is required in the situation. Impulse control also relates to attentional processes too. We…
Read more
When our dogs bark and lunge at other dogs or at people passing by, it can be very confusing. They may also struggle with other animals or vehicles, wanting to chase them and even grab them. It’s confusing because the narrative we have often been led to believe is that our dogs are fearful or…
Read more
Many dogs bark and lunge on walks. Sometimes they react to other dogs they see, perhaps even barking from the car. Other dogs struggle with unfamiliar humans they encounter, barking at people who approach them. Some dogs also struggle with moving vehicles, wildlife, livestock or other things. It’s not uncommon for some dogs to struggle…
Read more
Ruling out frustration and impulsivity when working with dogs who bark and lunge is vital. Many dogs in the Western world have been selected for responsiveness and trainability. When we selected dogs to help us hunt, protect flocks or protect our property, we certainly wouldn’t have wanted dogs who were slow off the mark. A…
Read more
Knowing when to visit the vet with your reactive dog is important. There can be many reasons behind barking and lunging. Those reasons can be a direct result of health issues. They may also be worsened by poor health. Helping your dog with behaviour is not simply for a dog trainer or behaviour consultant. Anxiety…
Read more
If you have a dog who barks and lunges, you may be surprised if a behaviour consultant asks you to stop by the vet. Surely there aren’t medical conditions that contribute to barking and lunging are there? In 2020, Professor Daniel Mills published an influential paper with nineteen other authors from across Europe, the UK,…
Read more
It is vital to understand why dogs bark and lunge at other dogs. When we lack clarity as to why they behave as they do, then we run the risk of ineffective treatment. Worse, we run the risk of adding to their problems rather than decreasing them. In his chapter in Landsberg et al. (2023),…
Read more