Board and train for dog-dog reactivity

Parallel walking, step by step

Parallel walking is one of the most useful exercises for these dogs, because it lets two dogs share space without facing each other, which is the most socially loaded position a dog can be in.

• Two handlers walk the same direction on parallel lines, far enough apart that the reactive dog stays relaxed
• The reactive dog is rewarded for glancing at the other dog and turning back to its handler
• Over several sessions the lines move closer, only as fast as the reactive dog allows
• If the dog stiffens or fixates, the handlers increase the distance and finish on an easy repetition
• Later, one dog follows the other, then they pass at a wide angle, then a sniff may be allowed if both dogs ask for it

What to expect from one week or two

One week is rarely enough for a dog who is reactive toward dogs in general. The one-week Foundation stay can teach the handling skills that support later work, like a reliable check-in, place and a calm walk, but it does not include the neutrality work and structured socialization that are built into the two-week Advanced program.

Over two weeks a suitable dog can learn to work closer to calm dogs than before and to recover faster after a reaction. That is real progress, but it is not the same as a dog who enjoys dog parks, and that may never be the goal. Many dog-reactive dogs live full, happy lives with a few trusted dog friends and polite indifference to everyone else.

After the stay: keep the world small, then grow it

Plan your first month home around avoiding close encounters. Walk at quiet times, pick routes with room to cross the road, and skip off-leash areas where loose dogs may run up. On Cape Ann, wide places like the off-season beaches give you the distance you need, but only if you can see dogs coming and your dog is on leash.

Keep practicing parallel walks with a friend’s calm, known dog if you have access to one. The go-home coaching lessons show you how to set those up so they mirror what your dog did during the stay. Our guide on practicing neutrality in town explains how to raise the difficulty without overfacing your dog.

When another route is the right one

Be candid in the enquiry about any fights, injuries to other dogs or bites. Those dogs usually need more time than a two-week stay, and Dogtown’s behavior-modification programs run six to ten weeks for that reason. If your dog seems anxious across many situations, not just with dogs, a veterinary behaviorist can look at the whole picture and whether medication would help. And if reactivity started suddenly, especially in a middle-aged or older dog, book a vet check first: arthritis and other pain often show up as grumpiness toward bouncy dogs.