Blog — Pit Bulls

What Is Leash Reactivity, Really? Leash reactivity is one of the most commonly discussed behavior challenges in dogs, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. People often use the term as a diagnosis or label for barking, lunging, growling, or over-excited behavior on leash. While these are the visible expressions, they are not the root of the issue. Leash reactivity is not a single behavior pattern, and it is not a personality trait. It is a nervous system response that emerges under specific conditions. To understand leash reactivity, we have to look beyond what the dog is doing...

Is my dog in a state of drive, or a state of fear? Lately, I’ve been wanting to help people understand that there is a real difference between a dog who has behavioral issues and a dog who is simply acting out his genetics. Behavioral issues, in my mind, are interruptions in a dog’s natural way of being—patterns that create distress for the dog, the owner, and often other animals as well. These are the behaviors we tend to label as reactivity, aggression, hyperactivity, anxiety, obsessive or compulsive patterns, depression, even self-harm. In these cases, the dog is not feeling...