Frustrated greeter or fearful dog?
Two dogs bark and lunge at the end of the leash. One wants to say hello. The other wants the dog to go away. They need very different plans.
Signs of a frustrated greeter
- Loose, wiggly body before the leash gets tight
- Pulling toward the other dog, often with whining
- Plays well off leash with familiar dogs
- Calms down quickly once the other dog is gone
Signs of a fearful dog
- Freezing, staring, or a tucked tail before the outburst
- Backing up or trying to hide, then lunging when cornered
- Avoids other dogs even off leash
- Stays tense or shaky long after the trigger has passed
Why it matters
A frustrated greeter needs to learn impulse control and that calm behavior is how they get what they want. A fearful dog needs to feel safe first, so we change how they feel before we ask for different behavior. Mixing the two up can make things worse.
Many dogs are a bit of both. That's why every plan starts with a 90-minute assessment, not a guess.
Pepper the beagle, one of our case studies, was a classic frustrated greeter. Her plan looked nothing like Luna's, who was fearful.
Start with clarity
Every plan begins with a 90-minute behavior assessment.
In-home across the Twin Cities or virtual anywhere. You'll leave with first steps the same day and a written plan within three business days.