Typist: Bethany
When Brychwyn is focused and "working" he isn't leash reactive. That is how it was easy for such a barking, lunging, snapping corgi to earn his CGC, RN & RA titles. But what about walking though the neighborhood? It's much more difficult for Brychwyn and I to work as a focused team when there are speeding cars, bicycles, dips in the sidewalk, low tree branches and other pedestrians. However, when we are traveling, Brychwyn's leash reactivity seems non existent even just on short walks around a campground. So what's the difference between our regular neighborhood walks and a walk through a neighborhood 3,000 miles away?

I have recently seen that Brychwyn considers being a Cascadian nomad his job. He works hard at being quiet and well behaved when we travel. Posing for photographs is one of Brychwyn's favorite "tricks." He takes pride in greeting strangers in far of places the way he worked at the "accepting a friendly stranger" task for his Canine Good Citizen title.

So if Brychwyn has decided what his job is and works hard at it, my task is to guide him into using that hard working corgi attitude everywhere we go. I need to hone my reactive dog training techniques to help Brychwyn see that it his job not to lunge and bark at other dogs whether we are in front of our home in Seattle or on the other side of the country. Isn't it exciting that both Brychwyn and I both have jobs to do?

Typist: Brychwyn
Many of my ancestors are champion herding champion corgis. Working hard and pleasing my human is in my blood. But as a city dog, it is sometimes difficult to understand what my job is when I am not in a training class or in the obedience ring. I need a job and am only satisfied when I am working!

Bethany loves to be on the road and I enjoy being by her side. She has explained how important is is that traveling dogs be quiet and stay close to her. Well, as you may have already guessed, when a hard working dog like me is given any significant task, I take it very seriously. I try my best not to spoil Bethany's happy travels with barking, lunging or snapping. Some dogs and people, however, make me believe I should let Bethany know our traveling security may be threatened. I don't think Bethany always minds my slightly over reactive behavior when it comes to keeping the pack safe.

Bethany also gets great pleasure from taking pictures while we are on the road. It is my job to pose as she pleases and I even make some creative suggestions about the photo locations and my positions. I do good work, don't you think?

Typist: Brychwyn
I know I am not supposed to lunge, bark, growl or snap at other dogs when I am on my leash. But when I forget, I don't need to be corrected. It's not like the world has ended! I simply had a momentary lapse in judgement. Sometimes even a super intelligent corgi can be forgetful.

Wilhelm, Huxley and I have fun together but the three of us are also very different. I can tell Bethany works hard to get to know each of us for who we are and treats us as unique individuals. In fact, I like it when every canine and human we encounter pays attention to me for my special personality. And if they don't, I bark and lunge and jump... Oops! There I go forgetting again. Fortunately, Bethany praises me and cheers for me every time I remember not to react so I am getting better at the individualism Bethany expects of me.

Typist: Bethany
It's obvious that each of our dogs is an individual with a unique personality. Yet it isn't as obvious that we need to tailor our training techniques to fit every dogs distinct temperament, especially when that dog is reactive. Many dogs issues are made worse by using the wrong training technique for the particular personality of that dog. I know. I did it with Brychwyn.

Dogs individual issues cannot be dealt with using a one-size-fits-all training technique. Nothing is black and white, especially when it comes to dog training. If you mold your training technique to fit what will aid your dog in dealing with their issues, you and your dog will reap the rewards. When what you're doing isn't working or your dog is getting worse,find another way to train. There are so, so many training philosophies and techniques out there! You should interview different trainers, observe assorted trainers in action, collect a mix of dog training books, research new techniques, read dog training studies and watch a variety of YouTube videos and DVD's. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to find the combinations of training techniques that will improve your dogs issues and everyone in the family's quality of life.

When Brychwyn's leash reactivity reared it's ugly, barking, lunging and snapping head, force of habit led me to use the same training techniques that had worked wonders with Wilhelm's issues. But Brychwyn's leash reactivity was made worse. In my journey through the world of dog training to help my leash crazed corgi, I have gained a wide range of knowledge of dog behavior and dog training. I am a better trainer and, because of it,  Brychwyn has become a better dog. Plus, Wilhelm, Huxley and even Leo and Amelia have gained ground in their training as I strive to tailor each pets training to their individual needs.

Typist: Bethany
What scares me the most about Brychwyn's leash reactivity is the lunging. We have to pass by other dogs in pretty close quarters here in the city and while I don't believe he would ever injure another dog, I fear that another dog will understandably defend itself against Brychwyn's snarling, barking lunge and Brychwyn will get hurt. So to me the most important thing in dealing with my leash reactive corgi is to get him by my side, out of harms way. For many years, I have used a "with me" command that means he is supposed to come from where ever he is to heel position (I don't make my dogs walk in exact heels while on everyday walks and with three dogs there's always one or two on my right side,) and look up at me. But lately Brychwyn has out smarted the "with me" command. On his way to his heel, he frantically looks about for another dog. I have taken to occasionally using the command when there is no other dog around but he is still on to me. We have been on such a minimal leash reactive event upswing lately, I want to somehow keep the momentum. And do that, I have gotten even more positive.

When either Brychwyn or I see another dog and Brychwyn's threshold has not been crossed, I just start praising up a storm. Not just verbal praise. Not just tons of treats. Petting. Tickling. Laughing. Squealing. I am a mobile Brychwyn cheer leading squad all by myself. And it's working! Brychwyn is such a hard working and eager to please dog. He has been very proud of making me proud. It's been a very rewarding few weeks. It's been virtually lunge free and with very few out of control barking fits.

I am so pleased with our progress lately and with travel season looming on the horizon I truly hope that Brychwyn continues to work so well for his cheerleader at the end of the leash. I am also very proud of myself in that it seems that I have finally undone the damage I did to my leash reactive dog with the useless negative training techniques I had tried. Any old-fashioned, negative reinforcement training with a reactive dog only make things worse! I always knew that it's all about the positive but that is so tough when holding the leash of a snarling, barking lunging monster. But now I am positive, positive and more positive. Maybe now all I need are some pom-poms?

Typist: Brychwyn
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm just a corgi. Nothing can hurt me. Especially not another dog. I live with Wilhelm, a smaller dog, and he can't hurt me. I also live with Huxley, a larger dog, and he can't hurt me. Last weekend we went to a corgi walk and there were lots of corgis there that agreed with me. Nothing can hurt us. We're not afraid of anything. Humans may call this expression of our corgi toughness being "leash reactive" but we just call it being ourselves. Sometimes we have to bark, snap and lunge at other dogs to let them know we are not afraid.

I have also said before that brings corgi means that I am eager to please Bethany. I like working for her. She's nice. Lately, when she tells me another dog is approaching... What is it she says? Oh yeah, "with me," she has really been expressive with her "good Brychwyn," "good dog" and "such a good boy" praising. I mean, I know it all, but it helps to hear it. She almost scares me with all her cheering and patting... but what frightens me more is missing out a chance to loudly tell another dog how tough I am. Wait. Nothing frightens me! Besides, like I have also said before, I would do anything to make Bethany happy. While I'd much rather bark, snap and lunge at other dogs, Bethany says we should stay positive. I'm not sure what that means but if ignoring other dogs gets me so much cheering and praise, I'll keep trying.

Typist: Brychwyn
So I growl, bark and lunge at other dogs when I am out on walks. What's the big deal? Corgis have been excellent guard dogs for centuries and I am simply carrying on the tradition. Bethany says she doesn't like it when I growl, bark, lunge and snap. She says I am "leash reactive." I don't understand what that means but she prefers that I not bark so I am trying to cut back. But WOOF Support? C'mon! I don't need any Working Out Our Fears help. I am afraid of absolutely nothing. Seriously. N.O.T.H.I.N.G.

Well, maybe I am afraid whenever Bethany is... She gets very worried when she sees an off-leash dog. Bethany is afraid Wilhelm, Huxley or I will get attacked. I guess it happens a lot. It happened to my friend Oz! But it has never happened to me. I wouldn't let it because I growl, bark, lunge and snap, looking and sounding very mean. I have never bitten anyone, of course. I don't think I ever would. But I would never have to because I make such a big showy "stay-away-from-me" scene! Like I said, I am a guard dog. And a very good one if I don't say so myself.

Sometimes I bark at other dogs because I want to say "hello!" I actually like most other dogs. I want to visit and play! Maybe I am afraid of not being noticed... Bethany says she is afraid other dogs will misinterpret my exuberant greeting. She says I have to be quieter and calmer and that I need something called "self-control." Do they have that at the pet store where everything else I need comes from? And does it come on fish flavor?

I am fine off my leash. Maybe I just don't like my leash. I am very good at "heel" and I always come when I am called so why do I need this leash on anyways?! I do also bark pretty loudly off my leash too. But I don't growl or lunge. So maybe Bethany is right and I am "leash reactive" but I still don't understand why I need help.

Bethany gives me a lot of treats on walks when I listen to her say "with me." This means I have to look at and stay near her and ignore other dogs. It's really hard though... I want them to notice me! I also want to be able to travel, go camping and go to the pub but Bethany says dogs that are so noisy can't do as many things. She says she doesn't need me to always guard her and our pack so I try to guard in a stealthier way. Corgis can be pretty sneaky!

I don't like walks when Bethany isn't focused on the task at hand and paying attention to me. I can sort of understand that she likes to enjoy the view or take pictures since I like to sniff and mark. But when she isn't concentrating on Wilhelm, Huxley and I, someone needs to make sure we are safe and the best someone for the job is me! Bethany has done a much better job of staying aware and keeping alert on our walks for quite a while now. And she gives me a lot of treats and praise for taking some off-duty time when we are out walking. I am getting used to it... but not too used to it if any of you dogs out there think that means you can come near without permission!

So if "leash reactive"means guarding your family and being theatrically friendly, then I guess I am. And if getting help for my leash reactivity means that I can keep going to wonderful places and doing fun things, then I'll do it. But most of all, if being quiet and staying next to Bethany when another dog is near makes her happy, then that is the best reason of all for me to try and try and try.

Typist: Bethany
Brychwyn came to live with me at ten and a half weeks old. In these last three years, he has never been attacked, bitten or even overly dominated by another dog. When Brychwyn was with his dam, grand dam and litter mates, he was properly socialized and carefully exposed to new experiences as well as other dogs. Yet even way back in his first puppy kindergarten class, Brychwyn snapped and lunged at the other well-meaning puppies. Looking back at those early symptoms, I wonder if I had treated Brychwyn's reactivity differently, then maybe it wouldn't have worsened. Jason and I believed he just needed morepositive socialization. So did our team of trainers and behaviorists. But the problem just got worse. I began to dread our walks because if we saw any other dogs Brychwyn got so loud and crazy. I thought he was just a puppy and we'd keep training and he'd be fine. But when Brychwyn was just a little less than a year old, he lunged and snapped at a friends lab puppy during a play date. I knew he had a serious problem. I didn't know what his problem was or how to deal with it but that didn't matter. I needed to help my corgi.

Leash Reactivity
I have been a hobby dog trainer since I was a teenager but I had never heard of "leash reactivity" before. And I can honestly say I still wish I hadn't. I have dealt with a slew of canine behavior problems but a leash reactive dog, the growling, the snapping, the lunging and the out of control barking involved, is the most difficult. In Brychwyn's case the worst part is that there is no specific incident that explains why he is this way. So I blame myself. I must have failed him somehow. And I will spend the rest of his life making it up to him. Everything I have learned about leash reactivity and how to deal with it has made me a better trainer and companion to my dogs. Not only do Brychwyn, Wilhelm and Huxley reap the benefits of me expanding my dog training knowledge but I will be a better partner to future canines I hope to be lucky enough to share my time with.

Threshold
The first thing I did in beginning the long, gradual, ongoing process of easing Brychwyn's leash reactivity was learning his threshold. I very simply observed what it took to make him react- a dog walking across the street, a loose dog running about, a dog behind a fence a block a way, etc. Then I got familiar with the physical signals that Brychwyn was going to react- ears pulled back, whiskers jutted forward, increased breathing, tail positioning, etc. Having been walking a leash reactive dog for quite a while (though unaware of the name of the problem) I had already become very alert to any other dogs around. But in learning about Brychwyn's threshold and the signs he gave about how he was going to react, I was able to begin the painfully slow, everlasting process of helping him.

Timing
Like any dog training, timing is everything. I had to be very careful not to reward Brychwyn for reacting but instead for not reacting. The only way to do this was to reward and praise before the reactivity threshold was crossed. And, in the beginning, we avoided any situations where Brychwyn's threshold was threatened. Because Brychwyn's leash reactivity had no rhyme or reason, this was (and still is) very difficult. Certain other dogs can walk on the same block with us while some can't be within a mile. This is where getting to know Brychwyn's physical signals helped. If I would see the other dog first, I could watch Brychwyn carefully for any of his about to growl, bark, lunge or snap signals, praising him if he remained calm and quiet and making sure his threshold was not crossed. If Brychwyn noticed the dog first, I would have to act quickly to keep Brychwyn from crossing his threshold. Again, observing his physical signals and praising and rewarding extensively. And, most importantly, not allowing Brychwyn to cross his threshold into growling, barking, lunging or snapping. Should I fail and allow Brychwyn's threshold to be crossed, I simply ignore his tantrum, however embarrassing it may be. Sadly, each time any reactive dogs threshold is crossed, training is set back. And so it went on, and still does, with Brychwyn.

Staying in the program
Once a reactive dog, always a reactive dog. I know this. I am fine with it. I celebrate the baby-step (or puppy-step) successes we have had so far. We have gone from not being able to share a city block with any other dog, to being able to walk on the same side of the street with other dogs. We can even cross paths with certain dogs. Brychwyn can be tied in front of businesses on the sidewalk as long as I am always watching carefully for his reactivity signs (I never take my eyes off the dogs when they are tied!) We can also go inside of dog-friendly establishments as long as I am constantly alert to anything that might cause Brychwyn to react.

All in all, Brychwyn's reactivity ebbs and flows. Sometimes we will have an entire walk where I could easily forget that he is a reactive dog. Other times, Brychwyn gets set off by something before we even leave our yard and I have to just soldier on with tears in my eyes and treats in my pocket. I don't know what made Brychwyn a leash reactive dog but if it is the same thing that also made him so handsome, expressive, funny, cuddly, intelligent, hard working and eager to please then I'm fine with it. We all have a dark side... Brychwyn's is just louder than most. But I love him. And I wouldn't want him any other way.