Camilla Gray-Nelson, The Dog Talk Diva

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Nature's Wisdom for Today's Woman

Understanding Leash Reactivity: The 6 Stages

dog on leash becoming aggressive
“Because predation is generally a straight-line process, break one stage and you can usually stop the process!”

Leash reactivity in dogs is more common than owners realize.  It usually has one of two sources:  fear or dominance, fear being the most common.  These are very different motivations, yet the response from the dogs tends to be similar, both defaulting to a type of predatory hunter behavior.  Because of this, understanding predation can help us control leash reactivity, regardless of its source.

All dogs are predatory hunters by nature. Besides being a way to get food, the techniques for taking down prey can also be a nervous dog’s means of protecting himself and a dominant dog’s way of establishing or owning  territory.

Predation presents in 6 predictable stages, and always in the same order:

  1. Locate the “victim”
  2. Eye stalk
  3. Lunge
  4. Grab bite
  5. Kill bite
  6. Eat

What we call leash reactivity usually begins at Stage 2 (Eye-Stalking) and, thankfully, rarely goes beyond Stage 4. The dog will “lock on” visually to the victim he has located.  He will usually freeze his body movement, close his mouth and focus intently on the other dog.  When the victim draws nearer, Stage 3 (Lunging) will quickly ensue, often with much vocal ado.

Because predation is generally a straight-line process, break one stage and you can usually stop the process!  In the case of leash reactivity, BREAKING THE EYE STALK becomes most helpful.  Practically speaking, there are many suggested methods for dealing with leash reactivity, but the ones that work have one thing in common: They all break the eye stalk.

Blocking the victim from view can be accomplished in any number of ways.  (Distracting with food, turning around, vision-blocking hoods, covering the eyes, etc.) My favorite, however, is the umbrella.  When open, it is wide and concave with plenty of room for a dog’s head. When their dog locates a possible “victim” and begins to eye-stalk, owners can open an automatic umbrella and keep it in front of their dog’s moving face while they continue walking by or choose another wider or divergent path.  Once they’ve passed the other dog, they can collapse the umbrella and carry on!

© 2020  Camilla Gray-Nelson
Dairydell Canine   (707) 762-6111

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Camilla Gray-Nelson

Camilla Gray-Nelson

I was born on a dairy farm in Petaluma, CA, my father an Irish immigrant and my mother the daughter of a local blacksmith-turned-auto-parts-dealer. Most of my friends growing up had four legs, not two. From my earliest days on the farm I learned a great truth: that the secret to getting what you want and influencing others is quiet strength, feedback and follow-through – not yelling, intimidation or conflict. Nature taught me this. My parents proved it. I live it. It has been my personal goal to share Nature’s message of quiet power with women (and men) everywhere to help them become more effective not only with their dogs, but in their greater lives as well.
Camilla Gray-Nelson

Camilla Gray-Nelson

I was born on a dairy farm in Petaluma, CA, my father an Irish immigrant and my mother the daughter of a local blacksmith-turned-auto-parts-dealer. Most of my friends growing up had four legs, not two. It has been my personal goal to share Nature’s message of quiet power with women (and men) everywhere to help them become more effective not only with their dogs, but in their greater lives as well.

Looking for 5-Star Dog Board and Train?

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Petaluma, CA

Looking for 5-Star Dog Board and Train?

Check out Dairydell's California Doggie Dude Ranch & Training Center
Petaluma, CA

One Response

  1. Camilla,
    I am very enthused by your site and look forward to learning more about your and how we can make my puppy chocolate lab a super citizen. We are closing in on the last of necessary vaccs and am interested in cuing up for 2022 training and possible board and train. I am eager to learn what additional information you need and homework I should be working on to make our Tucker be the most well-mannered lad, fit for future agility and service training with Clients and Mom at her retirement community..

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