Stop Dogs Reactive Behavior On Leash 

Sending so much love to fellow reactive dog owners. It's so tough.

I have a one year-old German Shepherd. She had just recently started to become reactive to other dogs, and sometimes two people as well. I was almost in tears because I felt like I had no idea how to handle it. I tried some other techniques from other handlers that said pretty similar things to you, but at the time I just wasn’t equipped I guess. Today was a breaking point she was barking and trying to run over to a little dog, and the lady was very mad about that even though I had my dog on a lead and she couldn’t get far it was just embarrassing and I felt pretty hopeless. I looked up this video and did about 20 minutes of training with her today. And OMG. The whole “ planting the flag “ thing to claim the space worked like a charm with her. I think once I did that she realized that I was going to be in control of the area and she was so much easier to handle and it look like she was having fun trying to keep up with me and pay attention and figure out where I was going, etc. It did take some treats but I was careful not to give treats to things that didn’t deserve it like if she stubbornly refuse to do a command for a while lol. But after about 20 minutes it was like a whole different dog even around other people. I tried this in my home for about five minutes thought she was picking it up pretty good so we did it outside on the sidewalk in a pretty remote area so there wasn’t a lot of people, and then we did it in the courtyard of my property where there was around three people that came and went in the time that we were there. And she did not bark or try to run into them or anything. She was focused on me and it just felt so empowering and I’m so proud of her. I realize that this is not a one day fix and plan on keeping this going to hopefully rectify the situation and I know there’s going to be setbacks, but this just gave me the help that I needed. 💖

Perfect explanation of how reactivity starts. That's exactly how my dog's reactivity started and unfortunately I didn't understand it at the time.

I've tried so hard to replicate this with my 1½ year old, but as soon as there are other dogs I cease to exist. I wish I had people and other, calm dogs to practice with, because the occasional meeting on the village sidewalk, with dogs who are much worse than mine even, just isn't enough...

Many a time I have came home from walking the dog crying my eyes out in stress and despair at his reactivity. Often the reason was other dog owners making unhelpful comments who didn't understand as they've never owned a dog with these issues. Even hearing 'why don't you just let him off the lead?' or 'oh he just wants to play' as he's breaking my arm by pulling is extremely frustrating.

As a kid we had a dog and did the same thing .. it was terrible to go out on the street with her.. pulling barking and so on .. now watching your videos i realise that we where the problem not the dog. I feel sorry now after 30 years knowing what was wrong or right... thank you sir .

I really like how you talk about calming yourself. It's so crucial.

You are a brilliant communicator, not just for the dogs, more importantly, for us. Thank you for explaining how our dogs are feeling. Thank you

Thanks. I got lost in the avoidance/positive training and my dog was acting like a rabid beast in public. Switched to a prong collar, then a slip lead, and a lot of your videos, now it's world's different.

Love your videos. Your timing, level of discipline and understanding of how a dog thinks is spot on! Being one inch tougher, no more and no less than your dog is so important to achieve the desired result. These trainings can help so many animals live their best life.

I don't even have a dog but I subscribed just because of this guy's loving vibe

With a lifelong passion for happy-behaved dogs, and a subscriber of this channel, I watch SO many of your vids. Will you are simply the best. 🇨🇦👍🏼

My dog LOVES all people, never pulls on the leash UNLESS there’s another dog in sight. Then is reactive if get close, never allowed to get close enough for something bad to happen. But I’m really wanting to get him to where I don’t have to worry about him if he wants to play.

This is perfect advice Will, you have made such a difference in my own training capabilities. I have a Giant Schnauzer and your techniques have had significant impact in his training progress. Thank you

My puppy was anxious about other dogs, so slowly socialised him… and now he thinks EVERY dog is his best friend. So aggression isn’t an issue at all.. But I really need this video because the loose lead is my biggest challenge with this puppy…😊

I've been spending lots of time on Fenrir and other effective "balanced' dog trainers and I'm pleased at how well it has worked with my 5 month Cane Corso puppy: she's one of those kids who love school. MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED: -Training games are super effective - she practically taught herself recall via playing fetch and her recall is really solid. (I (congratulate her without trying to get it from her, walk away - the dog will soon start tearing back and pushing the toy at you). BIG TIP WITH STRONG DOGS:- Because she's so strong, with my next puppy, I will concentrate intensely on loose leash training very early: I can't expect to win any dragging contests. Thankfully, my girl now checks in with me, is very aware and keeps a loose leash. I'm in a race against time to get this perfect with distractions before she's a big girl !!

That was amazing how quickly you got the Tilly doing what you needed her to do. 💖

You’ve made me calmer in the process as well. Thanks

Much love from AUS! Thankyou for the vids and effort you put in. You and the team are amazing and teaching a great way to train thats simple to follow. Leadership is all they want.

You’re the best! And the video quality is wonderful to be watch and audio is super crisp. The whole team is amazing. Edit: Shout out to the dogs; Good dogs! It’s fun to watch them react, and their faces. Lol

Thank you for explaining how reactivity starts and after realising it only ramps until it’s addressed. I love the way you relate and communicate, really impressive. I’d only had mixed breeds of mainly border collie, Shepard, lab, Rottweiler and NZ Hunterway which have all been an absolute pleasure and never thought I’d have a pure breed dog. But after my beautiful boy dog died last year I found it challenging finding the sort of mix up for adoption so relented and got a beautiful German Shepherd. She is perfect, now 5.5 months old, is gentle, kind hearted, faithful and loving but started being reactive while on leash with me and in pet shops etc. your video makes perfect sense. Im sure her on leash reaction to other dogs will easily be fixed as she is such a good dog. I thought it was my fault for spoiling her, giving her free reign of the house, beds couches etc but I don’t think you can give too much love or kindness. Many thanks for your pods. I’m sub’d in looking forward to more. Kind regards from NZ.

The way Will Explains things are sooooooooo simplistic in the best learning way thanks Will great vid again!!!

Just ordered a slip lead. You are my favorite trainer on you tube and your methods really work. My 9 month old gsp responds to everything you teach. It’s just patience and time lotssss of time.

My little rescue jackapoo has become very reactive towards other dogs after he survived an attack by another much bigger dog. Your methods are something I'm looking to incorporate in his training. Thank you for such great content.

You make it look so easy. I think I’ll go back to earlier videos to understand planting the flag. Thank you!

I always learn and I am always grateful. Your lessons are spot on with my rescue. Thank you!

Hi Will. I bought a super active, working line German Shepherd puppy in 2015 and went straight to a prong collar after a few months to bring him up as the most well behaved dog ever. My friends, family, and even strangers couldn't believe how well a big GSD could walk on a lead, and he could even "sit and stay" around active dogs without batting an eye lid until I released him with my "OK" command. I've only just discovered your channel as I'm in the process of rescuing a 9-year old Alaskan Malamute mix (I no longer have my GSD due to a split with my ex-wife). I've just been refreshing myself with all of the training techniques and I'm really glad to see such a great, BALANCED, trainer such as yourself (especially the video where you talk about the myths surrounding prong collars, thank God)! Really looking forward to getting my new dog in May and going through all of the techniques once again (the rescue centre says he is reactive to other dogs and that he pulls on the lead etc). I think I'll soon have him trained in no time with solid leadership and direction! Thanks.

I really like your videos with the slip lead training. Has been very useful. As a development it would be great to see the reactive dog, post tune up, meeting another reactive dog, rather than a calm dog. My boy doesn't react to calm dogs, just to hyper dogs! Thanks

Hi I'm a Care Taker for old people. They have a small dog that pulls. I watched your clip. IT WORKS. Small Molly is no longer pulling. So now her mom can walk her without pulling. THANK YOU

That was an incredible transformation. Thank you for sharing this.

Greetings from Phuket Thailand….. Thanks for posting another excellent video. It’s so very important that we as owners remain “calm and relaxed” during training sessions. Having a 20 month old female Golden Retriever, I have unfortunately found myself getting upset with her when she starts pulling, or jumping up on other people when we’re out for our walks. I latter feel upset with myself for reacting in such a shitty manner, when in fact it was actually my fault for not training her properly from day one. We love our dogs, that’s why we have them around us. Stay Calm…. Oooouuuuzzzzaaaaa…..

The video addresses EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thank you!! 🙏🙏🙏

Wonderful, thanks especially for demonstrating the slip leash placement!

I have a reactive Border Collie. I've taken him to training classes, but they didn't resonate with us. I've been watching your videos for a while now and I feel that I have a better understanding of what I need to do and how to change my behaviour as an owner in order to strengthen my bond with my dog. I cannot thank you enough. I'm going to buy a slip lead and train my dog with love, so that our walks can become stress free.

I really like the way you are breathing to work on your calm energy.

Hi will, been using a lot of your techniques from your videos with our puppy Italian Mastiff and they are working a treat. Thank you so much keep up the good work.

I've been looking for a video like this! Well explained , simple, concise, no extra fluff! Thank you

Thank you Will, you have helped me so much with my puppy that I love so much! He is super smart and yes reactive but I know doing what you have demonstrated will help him immensely. Sure wish you were nearer so Leo could come and spend the day with you. He would absolutely adore that! Here's to healthy leadership! Have a wonderful day!

dude let me tell you right now. you are effin great. I'm working on my dog (1 year old and was abandoned - we have a bond already) the jump to people issue and in one morning he is so much better. it's hard for me to not just pet him all the time cause I have a soft spot for dogs but his behavior is improving dramatically. He was abandoned in the middle of the mountains and survived hunting. I was expecting worse but he's showing progress daily.

Love your videos! Thank you for taking the time to make them.

Really appreciate and support your focus on ‘loving leadership’.👏🏼🌟🙏🏼

This video taught me more in the few minutes you spent walking through what to do, than 6 weeks and $260 of reactive training I went through with my Goldendoodle. Will be working with this technique and my Goldendoodle 🤯

This gives me so much hope. I'm hoping to get my first dog in the next few years, and having a dog understanding what behaviors are okay and which ones are is something that I really want to instill in him/her. Thank you for the videos.

Frustrating taking my girls on a walk and the one naughty one hypes the other two. Training is a challenge with three high energy ladies.

He really makes it look so easy. Years of experience here in this video. I really struggle with this.

Brilliant. Thank you for all your videos, Will.

Iv learned so much about training my 5year old american staffordshire bully from your videos. This is the issue my dog has is very excited when around other dogs and got him going good on the loose leash but this is the next step. To calm him around other animals.

I love your channel- I think your background with troubled youth makes your training much more effective. I do not equate children or people with dogs as the former must take precedence of the latter- but honest to goodness I use so many of the same techniques with both students and dogs. People look at me like I’ve studied and practiced and are “specialized” with both- but I’m not. I just get how behavior works and everything, even discipline has to come from a place of kindness and care.

i like your addition of remaining calm which is equally vital as a handler, it even helped me to calm myself and release tension in the moment as i watched. awesome video, thanks so much

Great video, thank you. Helping a family daily walk an 18mo xl bully(super heavyweight). He is not leaving me now until we meet a dog, then whining turns into barking with lunges. Not aggressive but so excitable.

Amazing... I'm in pure adoration of this technique..😀

Love your philosophy on life, dog training, and your accent. Wish we were neighbors as I work with my rescue adolescent coonhound mix.

I cannot begin to tell you how badly I needed to see this video!! I have a 186lb English Mastiff that I have taken over from the owners because of their jobs. He’s hands down the most affectionate dog I have ever been around but when we get around other dogs on our evening walks he lunges and he can be a lot to handle!

Thank you very much for teaching how to use the slip leash!

Love these videos, you explain everything so well

Another great video sir. Thank you, Its a journey to where I want my dog to be but we are working on it.

Thank you so much! This was very helpful. We initially went with a prong collar (Sprenger) and it helped a lot. However, he would regress without the collar.

Thinking about getting a dog for the family. Your videos are amazing!!!

I have a rescue dog. Pointer/Lab mix. We have had him about a year now, and it has only gotten worse. What a lover. Loves people but goes out of his mind toward other dogs. I have been watching your videos, and working on taking control. He is doing fantastic. I have gotten rid of the harness, and am working with a collar now. One step at a time.. I know it's a process. Wondering what will happen when we encounter dogs next.

Great explanation. I have a 7 m.o. JRT that wants to rush,pull and meet any new 2 or 4 legged ‘friend’ Never aggressive but does do the whimpering. Will give this a try

Thank you! For the time and patience you give in EXPLAINING everything you do and WHY you do it. Immeasurably helpful..! 👍

I spoke to a trainer a while back over the phone about my GS , trainer responded if your dog is nervous he's a write off and I won't work with him. Can you imagine, luckily I didn't take on his advise and continued the training myself.

Your videos are extremely helpful. Thank you so much

This training looks quite miraculous! Amazing! This is exactly what my sweet 8yr old lab needs! Where to start? I’m across the pond in the US.

Thanks Will, you make it look so easy, but I will work on it & do as you say 💕💕🐶

What training advice do you have for reactive behavior at home and not just on leash?

thank you so much for this simple, effective and concise video and for teaching us a bit about the tools and techniques. much love!

man this dudes a wizard... this is hard to work on my young cane corse

My Aussie has improved on reactivity. But definitely wanting to improve. Only seems to happen in our neighborhood. Everywhere else, dog park, vet, pet store, she is good. We have been working on heeling off leash so we are building the right foundation 😊

Addicted to these clips - on countdown to picking up my border collie puppy

i have 4 months old lab who does this and it is getting difficult for us to walk normally , i will try this method and see how we go. thank you

This man is an incredible dog behaviorist

Starting this tomorrow - thx Will!👏

Will you are Brilliant, you have been so helpful me and my rescue reactive Chihuahua🐾💞

Nice job guys, super editing 👍. What camera are you using these days ?

Wow that's amazing I have a 2 year old german shephard she fantastic apart from on the lead and other dogs...I tried putting the collar higher on her neck and I have so much more control and she doesnt pull haven't met another dog yet but its made me more confident in handling her

Your videos are truly amazing and very helpful with my xl bully

So pleased I found this as my Lilly is almost identical to Tilly!!!! And the same issue so tomorrow this is our first port of call. And I have a lead and know how to use it so pray it will work. As it’s becoming difficult when other dogs are met while we out and as my support dog in training I could do without that behaviour. So thanks. Will let ya know how it goes

Now that I have watched the entire video, the dog he's working with is NOT reactive. Just excited. He did a good job teaching heal and loose leash walking without using hand signals or verbal commands.

Your videos are so good mate, thank you.

this guy is the best trainer on youtube

this is super helpful!! i walk our neighbor's dog (understimulated & underexercised 6yo black mouth cur) along with my own and while she's an absolute sweetheart with people and our dog, she's agression reactive to dogs that she sees being walked, even if she sees them while she's on a walk. part of it is just that she needs exercise, which i can't give her enough of due to being disabled, but part of that is that i don't think she's ever been properly leash trained, so i'm having to work with her from the ground up when i can she's very intelligent and wants to do well, which is good, she just has a lot of trouble controlling herself when she's starting from such a hard point

Thanks for this video!! We got a puppy. I am researching what the best way is to train her and I cine across your vid. Foxys are hilarious!!!

Great Will ,well done 👍

Amazing video. Love that the dog's reactivity is gone in one afternoon, I couldn't wait to try it with my little lunging and barking machine.. Watched the video 3 times and had my dog watch it once with me. We tried the training techniques one afternoon, and then the next day, and the next. She's still my little lunging and barking machine. ☹Not a quick fix with her.

excellent clear info. thank you

My lab/collie mix is 10yrs old now (a rescue) & she’s always been verbal to other dogs & pulled me over on a couple of occasions. Would have liked to see you with an older dog who’s more aggressive than the lovely Tilly 🦆💕

I have the same problem with my dog of eleven months. I will follow your advices, I hope to fix it! Ciao!

Great video.

You are an amazing trainer. I really appreciate how you explain everything in full detail. I’m trying to find this leash you are using and I can’t. Could you tell me what kind it is or give me a link for it? Plz and thank you

Thank you for your videos. Love them. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing

Absolutely great video. If you have to walk to a suitable place to carry out training with your dog would you use the slip lead once in a suitable place or from leaving the house?

I watch your video's from the US. They are the best out there. And yes, I have one of those pups too..

I love this video. It's so helpful. My dog is so reactive to.other dogs, that I'm weary about even taking her out. I'm afraid to even let her near other dogs because idk if she wants to play or attack. It's such a struggle.

Ah Will, i wish i was local to you, and you could help us with our now 10 month old cane corso, 😢 after this video i am definitely going to start this TODAY I'm nearly ready to give up, but it's upto me to teach him, as you said it's a playful lunge he loves other dogs and thinks they all want to play but he's getting heavier by the day now. Thank for the great video x

Thank you so much. This helped me so so much.

Excellent video Will thank you.☺️

I have a pure bred Gotti and he has made leaps using this exact method. The slip lead definitely helps. I find with optimal exercise and consistent leash practice we've gone from unwalkable to going for adventures off leash in a year!

You make this look so easy