The Perfect Pup’s newest class is called Relief for Reactive Dogs. We have a guest trainer coming in to teach this class. She is Kelly Leisten of Applaud the Dog in Guilford, CT. We are thrilled to have Kelly working with us. Our class is almost full, but we have noticed a common question from those who signed up is how do I live in an apartment with a reactive dog? Apartment living with a reactive dog can be challenging but is possible with positivity and training. We are very excited about our new class so we decided to write a blog this week on apartment living with a reactive dog.
Problems that arise from apartment living with a reactive dog.
There are many problems that can arise while living in an apartment building with a reactive dog. Having to deal with noise complaints is always one of them. A reactive dog’s first reaction to its trigger is to bark loudly. This can easily lead to a noise complaint from your neighbors. Another problem can be that neighbors may report your dog as aggressive if it lunges at them when walking through the building or going on walks outside of it.
You will not be able to completely avoid your neighbors so the next best thing to do is let them know ahead of time how your dog may act, and they may try to accommodate your schedule and walk their dogs at different times. If your dog is more upset by strangers, you can always give the neighbors that you see on a regular basis treats to give your dog so it associates meeting other people with something positive.
Find out what triggers the reaction in your reactive dog.
Every reactive dog has its triggers, so you’ll have to figure out what about your apartment is making the dog reactive. This could be one thing or several things. Common triggers include noise, strangers, or people, and other dogs walking by the windows. Once you figure out what your reactive dog’s triggers are, you can work on an action plan to control them. If you are not home during the day to witness your dog’s behavior, it might be wise to invest in a camera to record their activity.
How to handle your dog if it is reactive to noise.
One of the main triggers of reactive dogs can be noise and apartment living has lots of that. Dogs have much better hearing than so even the slightest noise can leave them on edge. One way you can get around this problem is by creating a safe sound space for your reactive dog. This can be done by using something that creates white noise. A cheap box fan usually does the job just fine. One other tip on having a safe sound space; it works better if your dog is crated.