Why Does My Dog Growl on the Leash?

Is your dog usually calm and friendly, yet the moment you attach them to their leash, they begin growling at people, other dogs, or seemingly nothing? This strange behavior leaves many dog parents scratching their heads and looking for ways to avoid running into triggers on daily walks. 

Most leash aggression doesn’t involve further lashing out, but it’s still concerning enough that you want to determine what’s causing the issue. Before you call it quits on neighborhood walks, see if you can pinpoint the cause to find the solution to leash growling. 

What Causes Leash Aggression?

Leash aggression is often portrayed through growling or barking while leashed, and it’s a common problem. Leash growling is typically due to a mix of frustration and tension your dog is feeling. But what are they frustrated about? 

Many of these dogs want to interact with other dogs or people, but they lack the social skills that lead to a successful interaction. This means that instead of sniffing another dog, they may begin growling or barking when another approaches. Understandably, this leads owners to pull their pup away from the unknown animal. However, this removal prevents the dog from learning the right way to act. 

How to Stop Leash Growling

Believe it or not, training off the leash is the best way to address leash growling. However, this should only be done by a professional dog trainer in a controlled environment. Trainers are experts in reading a dog’s body language, which is vital when approaching this situation. 

A trainer will also be able to evaluate the situation to see if the issue is leash aggression or if there’s another behavior problem at play. While social training will likely lessen the leash growling, there are cases with an underlying concern. 

In the Meantime

While you’re working towards removing leash aggression, the key to a non-frustrating walk is the art of distraction. When your dog begins growling, release the tension from your leash. Doing this will teach your dog that they can turn to look at you when they see another dog. Providing a treat when they turn to you will help enforce the behavior. 

Combining your effort in getting your dog to focus on you in frustrating moments with the professional skills of a dog trainer will help eliminate the growling when your dog is on their leash. Contact Dog Training Now Charleston to learn more about leash training.