Leash reactivity is rarely aggression. It is usually frustration or fear expressed by a dog that cannot create distance on its own.
Read the Early Signals
The bark is the last step, not the first. Intervene at the first change in posture and the outburst never arrives.
- Hard stare and a frozen head position.
- Closed mouth, raised tail, weight shifting forward.
- Refusing food that the dog normally takes.
Work Under Threshold
Find the distance where your dog notices the trigger but can still eat and respond. Every rep happens at that distance until it becomes boring, then you close the gap slightly.
Give the Dog a Job
A trained alternative behavior such as a hand touch or a heel pivot gives the dog something to do with the adrenaline instead of rehearsing the outburst.
Key takeaway
Distance is the training tool. Manage it well and reactivity fades in weeks rather than years.