The dog walking mistake that causes more leash aggression than most owners realize - Silicon Canals

"Here's the thing though. That instinctive tightening of the leash might actually be making your dog's reactivity worse, not better. After years of observing dog owners in my neighborhood and talking to trainers for various articles, I've noticed this pattern playing out over and over. The very thing we do to prevent aggression might be accidentally training our dogs to be more reactive."

"Your shoulders tense up, your breathing shifts, and you're essentially telegraphing anxiety straight down that leash to your dog. Dogs are incredibly perceptive creatures who pick up on our emotional states faster than we realize. Think about it from your dog's perspective. They see another dog, feel you suddenly tense up and pull them back, and what's the message? Danger."

Tight leash pressure during encounters changes owner body language — tense shoulders, altered breathing — which communicates anxiety down the leash. Dogs perceive this as danger and mirror their owner's emotional state, often responding with increased barking, lunging, and overall reactivity. Restricting a dog's movement creates frustration akin to being held back from investigating something interesting, which can escalate reactive behaviors. Observations and a rescue-dog example show that shortening the leash and bracing oneself can worsen behavior; professional training attention can reveal the handler's tension as a contributing factor. Reducing leash tension and changing owner body language can decrease perceived threat and reactivity.

Read at Silicon Canals