The Best Time to Walk a Reactive Dog + 5 Key Tips for Managing Reactivity
Walking a reactive dog can feel overwhelming, but with the right strategies, it doesnât have to be. In this post, I reveal the best time to walk a reactive dog and share 5 essential tips for managing reactivity. From maintaining distance to structured walks and working on neutral socialisation, these tips will help make your walks more confident and stress-free.
5 Super Tips To Manage Reactivity
Walking a reactive dog can be super challenging and frankly a stressful and dreaded experience for many. I was once in the same position, my reactive dog was ruining my life! I started getting anxious when it was time to take him out for a walk, my heart would beat faster and my breath would shorten, it was horrible.
Thankfully I discovered a lot of things that worked and a lot of things that didn’t when it came to Jasper’s reactivity. In this blog post I’ve selected 5 different tips which I’ve found super useful when it comes to reactivity including the best time to walk a reactive dog!
#1 – Best Time To Walk a Reactive Dog?
Finding the right time to walk your dog can make a huge impact on the success or downfall of your walk. I’ve tried it all, super early morning, afternoons, late evenings, off peak times, you name it!
I’ve found that whatever time that you really choose is down to you, a lot of us have schedules to stick to so maybe walking a dog at 5 or 6 in the morning isnât really ideal.
Regardless of what you choose, here are some factors to help your decision for timings:
Early Mornings
This still manages to be a popular option because a lot of people like to have their dog walked before they start their day. Early mornings are so peaceful and will have little to no distractions so it is a great time to walk a reactive dog and train, BUT remember you aren’t the only one with a reactive dog! There is a big chance of clashing with other reactive dog owners! Especially on weekends!
Late Evenings
Late evening revolves around the same concept as early mornings. Yes it is quieter and less stimulating but with it being later you may find yourself bumping into dogs going on a toilet break. This option is perfect for dog parents who may work later than normal though!
Off-Peak Hours
These are going to be the times you want to aim for. Off-Peak Hours, when it’s quieter on the streets, parks and fields can make your walk more calm and enjoyable.
Post Lunch Times
Getting out after lunch time is a slot that I discovered on my journey with walking dogs. Normally people will use the lunch period to walk and feed dogs, by waiting till this is over can give you a more enjoyable experience. You’ll still get the odd few dogs around at this time but it should be noticeably smoother for you at this time.
Rain is Your Best Friend
The final factor is the weather. Rain is going to be your best friend because a lot of owners avoid walking in the rain which is understandable BUT as reactive dog owners, this is a gold mine!! Imagine having a field to yourself! If you get the appropriate outerwear for your dog you can be prepared to take advantage when this comes into play.
#2 – Maintain Distance from Triggers
A crucial aspect of reactivity people miss out is maintaining distance from triggers. A lot of reactive dog owners would rather have their dog explode than turn around and go the other way.
The goal with reactivity is to start with avoiding the reactive behaviour to break the habit. Find what distance your dog feels comfortable around their triggers, it may be 5ft, it might be 50ft!
Whatever the distance is, avoid closing that gap until your dog is ready. If this means getting your dogs attention and turning around and adding 5 minutes onto the walk then so be it.
A great method of counter conditioning and socialising is finding somewhere you and your dog can sit and watch their triggers from outside of the threshold zone and rewarding the behaviours you like such as orientating back to you, disengaging from trigger etc.
#3 – How You Leave The House Matters!
It’s very common practice for owners to grab the leash, have the dog get super excited (or anxious), leash the dog, and leave straight away. For some dogs that may be fine, but for those that have issues or are going through training leaving in a frantic, aroused or anxious state of mind can cause issues straight off the bat.
I recommend getting your dog leashed and waiting for them to give you calm behaviour before opening the door and then don’t allow them to dash out the door when it’s finally open.
This guidance allows the dog to self-regulate before the walk and take the energy levels down a notch which could be the difference between your dog listening and your dog not listening.
There’s been times I’ve waited for an hour, hour and a half for Jasper to calm down before heading out. Trust me it makes the difference!
I also recommend getting your dog desensitised to the activity of going outside. So put your shoes on and then sit down, grab the leash and then just put it back, leash up your dog, wait by the front door and then unleash your dog and go back inside etc. Doing these activities multiple times during the day will start reducing the major emotions your dog feels with the walk because you’re teaching them these things don’t matter.
#4 – Set Your Dog Up For Success
Setting your dog up for success is crucial regardless of what you are trying to teach. This means going at your dogs pace and understanding when you are pushing too fast.
A lot of owners end up having dogs explode because they push them too far, put them in situations they aren’t ready for, they rush the walk, go through trigger stacking, get frustrated, don’t provide fulfilment, give the wrong direction and guidance and more.
Ensure that you are setting your dog up for success, take your time, be calm and think clearly and don’t push them further than they are ready for.
#5 – Structured Walks Are Key
My biggest tip here is structured walks!! I found structured walks to have a huge improvement on Jasper and his reactivity.
Structured walks consist of loose leash walking for a period of time, followed by allowing your dog to do what he wants (to an extent of course), and then back into loose leash walking.
A lot of people will walk in a loose leash to a park and then allow their dog to break and then have a structured walk back. I now use it when needed, if we are going through a busy area he goes into a structured walk but the majority of the walk he now spends out in front of me.
This kind of walk works your dog mentally as well. You teach them to walk with you and watch out where you are going instead of just having them drag you around in a frantic and over aroused manner where they don’t even acknowledge you and end up coming back more stressed than when they left.
Read more on my blog post to discover how to master structured dog walks.
Working on Socialisation to Overcome Reactivity
Walking your dog at quieter times of the day is a great short-term solution, but itâs not the end goal. While avoiding peak hours can help prevent reactions, the real progress comes from gradually working on socialisation. The aim isnât to avoid all potential triggers forever but to teach your dog to cope and remain neutral around them.
Socializing a reactive dog doesnât have to be overwhelming. It starts with calm, controlled exposure to mild distractions from a distance, gradually closing that gap as your dog becomes more confident, calm and less reactive. This kind of structured socialisation can help your dog develop a better response to their environment and triggers over time. Itâs not about forcing them into high-stress situations but about teaching them to be calm and neutral in the presence of potential triggers.
To dive deeper into socialisation strategies, check out my blog post on how to socialize a reactive dog. If you’re looking for an easy way to follow the steps to successful socialisation, you can download my FREE reactivity starter bundle. Inside, you’ll find a detailed socialisation checklist and guide to help you build your dogâs confidence at their own pace, along with other resources to assist in managing reactivity.
Final Thoughts and Bonus Tips!
Reactive dogs can be challenging, but you aren’t alone. Many of us deal with reactivity everyday and there is plenty of success when it comes to this issue too.
You can discover more tips on managing a reactive dog in my reactivity starter bundle below!
Download for information to make your walks less stressful PLUS I’ve added in a 5 day stress detox to help reduce and eliminate stress from your dog to allow them to think clearer and make better choices which in turn will make them easier to train, especially for reactivity.
If you have any experience, tips of stories with reactivity feel free to share them below! đđž
