Should I keep taking my friendly-reactive dog to group classes?
Friendly-reactive dogs often lose focus, lunge wildly on the leash, and ignore treats around other dogs. Staying in class risks constantly rehearsing the lunging behavior, but practicing through the over-excitement can eventually help some dogs settle down and focus.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Working one-on-one with a desensitisation trainer
- 2Trying to move further away from the group to give the dog distance
- 3Switching to private obedience classes or alternative activities like scentwork
- 4Using separation boards or visual barriers in group settings
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“he's quite friendly-reactive for example lunges at other dogs when he's on his lead.”source ↗
“he immediately 'loses his ears' around other dogs and doesn't listen or respond to treats at all, and lunges like crazy.”source ↗
“I worry I'm making his reactivity worse by rehearsing the lunging over and over again.”source ↗
“My dog-excited herder got way better with practice in group classes—he’s a year old and after he settles down he’s really focused and not trying to greet other dogs.”source ↗