Training a reactive dog in a large urban city comes with its own unique challenges. Triggers, like other dogs and people on bikes, seem to be everywhere. And traffic within the city can be quite noisy and overstimulating, especially during rush hour. So, where do you go?
This article discusses the best places to train a reactive dog in London, Ontario, once you are ready to work outdoors. It assumes that you have been working on foundational exercises, like calmness, focus and leash handling skills, indoors first. Training should only be moved outside once your dog has reached certain training benchmarks inside. But if your dog is reliably doing well with training indoors, read on to learn all about outdoor location number one!
#1: Country Canines Play Park
Country Canines Play Park is a secure, fully fenced private dog park in London, Ontario, as well as other select locations throughout the province. The outdoor facility is clean and well-maintained, and from inside the park, you will have full visibility of the parking lot. The high fence is locked, and you must enter and exit the facility at the same access point (i.e., a wooden hut), which offers peace of mind. Inside of this access point, you will see neatly stored poop bags, a first aid kit as well as toys for play.
To access this park, you must schedule a date and time beforehand and agree to abide by their terms and conditions. By following their rules, you are helping to ensure that everyone’s experience will be a happy, safe one. They even have rules for when you are allowed to drive into their parking lot and when you must leave, which means that you and your reactive dog will not come across other dogs in the parking lot. Before you leave your house, you can even check the play park conditions online to see if your area’s park is muddy or if there are large pools of water. The owners of this company really thought through everything! If you would like to take your dog to this play park, please play by their rules! Doing so keeps this play park safe and fun for everyone.
While I was there to celebrate my dog’s 1-Year adoption day, I also evaluated the play park specifically in terms of its usefulness for behaviour modification set ups. Because of its location and layout, it will be easy to properly manage and control who comes into the training space. And since there are no tall trees within the training space, you are less likely to come across squirrels, but I bet it could still happen. One factor to keep in mind, however, is that this park is nestled up against the ON-402 highway, which means your dog could hear traffic and potentially see fast-moving cars, trucks and transport vehicles.
#2: Sniffspot
Sniffspot markets itself as a place to “rent safe and private dog parks hosted by locals.” Like Country Canines Play Park, you must select a date and time to book your spot ahead of time. Only your dog and the people you invite are allowed into the spot.
Unlike the Country Canines Play Park, you will need to do a bit more research to ensure that the spot you choose is safe for sensitive or reactive dogs. Many of them do, so don’t worry! Just be sure to pay attention to the profile of the specific spot that you want to book and also read reviews!
While reading a spot’s profile, see if you can locate information on the following:
1. Fencing. Is the spot fully fenced? How high is the fence? Is it a chain link fence, or is the fence made out of solid wood? Ideally, look for a spot that has at least a six-foot fence that is made out of wood, especially if the spot is beside another house, which could increase the likelihood of your dog seeing potential triggers: dogs or children playing in the neighbouring yard.
2. Does the spot’s neighbours have dogs? Many profiles will mention if their neighbour has a dog, but reading the reviews might also give you this information.
Like everything in life, do your due diligence to ensure that you choose the spot that is right for you!
#3: Your Neighbourhood and Park (OFF-PEAK HOURS)
If you do not have a backyard, it is possible to train in your own neighbourhood or local park. You will need to be more mindful of the environment and determine the best time of day to go outside to actively train. Typically, you will want to train when there is ample natural sunlight and fewer triggers outside. At first, outdoor training sessions should be short and sweet. In the beginning stages, you should aim to actively work on behaviour modification for thirty seconds up to a minute before taking a nice long break and heading home.
If you live by a school or park, take your dog there during off-peak hours. This will vary depending on the location. Take a walk, without your dog, to inspect the location first at the time of day that you are hoping to actively train. Observe how busy it is and count how many triggers you see within a fifteen-minute window. If there is only one or two triggers within those fifteen minutes, this might just be a great time to train going forward. Ideally, you will want to situate yourself far enough away from entrances or exits that your dog does not feel confined. The goal is for your dog to watch a trigger from a safe enough distance that your dog is still calm and controlled.
Bring delicious treats or a favourite toy, but do not use these to distract your dog! Any time your dog sees a trigger but voluntarily looks away, calmly mark with a “Yes” and then give your dog a yummy treat or a very quick but calm play session. Gradually, your dog will learn to associate triggers as the bringer of good things. This does take time, and you only increase your distance towards a trigger gradually and when your dog is calm and relaxed. Do not push your dog and force your dog into close contacts with triggers.
If you need more help training your leash reactive dog, and you do not want to train alone, look for a dog trainer or behaviourist who uses humane methods. A qualified professional can help you to calmly and confidently navigate reactivity training in an urban environment.
About the Author: Kate Hendriks is a certified dog trainer and certified family dog mediator who offers private, one-on-one dog training in London, Ontario. She specializes in reactivity, predatory chasing and formal obedience and works with dogs who have genetically higher prey drives. Contact Kate Hendriks today to book your FREE 30-minute phone call to learn more!
Comments