Canine Good Citizen Training Tips: Reaction to Another Dog
/If you’re taking the Canine Good Citizen Test to help prepare your dog for a therapy dog training program, then learning how to share some space with an unfamiliar dog is incredibly important for your dog.
It’s entirely possible that a facility you’re visiting may have dogs. Some may be therapy dogs, but there could be other dogs present as well. You want your dog rocking neutral dog behavior.
Neutral dogs are predictably calm. They don’t really react to or try to play with other dogs in the environment. Instead, they’re quiet and mellow as they walk by other dogs, even dogs who are barking or lunging.
Training for this portion of the CGC Test requires dog-rich environments. Before we get into specifics, be sure to review what you and your dog will be expected to do for this task.
Task #8: Reaction to Another Dog
The AKC description of this eighth test reads:
“This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler.”
According to the CGC Evaluator Guide, the evaluator looks for seven main behaviors:
The dog should show no more than a casual interest in the distraction dog. If the dog attempts to go to or jump on the distraction dog, it should not pass the test.
The dog may move slightly toward the other dog/handler, then stop. The dog must stay back from the other dog/handler.
The dog can stretch its neck and sniff without moving forward to the other dog/handler.
When the handlers stop to shake hands, the dog does not have to sit. It can remain standing beside the handler. If the dog remains standing, it should not cross over in front of the handler to go to the other dog.
The conversation between the handlers can be brief, “Hi, good to see you again. Give me a call sometime.”
As the handler leaves, if the dog turns around and begins pulling as if to follow the other dog/handler, the dog should not pass the test.
If the distraction dog causes a disruption, the dog can be tested again with a more appropriate distraction dog. The distraction dog should have been observed or evaluated before the test to ensure that it is reliable.
Watch the video below for a few quick demonstrations of how evaluators will ask you to demonstrate that your dog will come when called for the CGC Test.
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Disclaimer
Before you start reading the training tips, please remember I am not a professional dog trainer. I am a dog parent just like you who wants my dog living up to CGC expectations for being a well-mannered pup in public. I’ve pulled these tips from a variety of sources, including online videos, webinars, books, and dog obedience classes I’ve attended. I’ve used all of the tips I suggest, but not all of these ideas may be right for you or your dog.
If you’re serious about wanting your dog to be a good neighbor, you should absolutely 100% be working with a professional dog trainer. Read more about why working with a professional dog trainer is one of the best decisions you’ll make for you and your dog. Once you’ve found a professional dog trainer who understands you and your goals, then online resources can serve as helpful reminders and inspiration.
Do you have a reactive dog?
If you have a reactive dog, then you need to be working with a professional dog trainer. Period.
To clarify what I mean by reactive dog, I’m going to use a definition presented by Allie Bender and Emily Strong, both certified dog behavior consultants, in their book Canine Enrichment for the Real World: Reactivity is an “overreaction to a particular stimulus or stimuli (person, animal, or object).” Overreacting could look like excessive barking, growling, or lunging.
If your dog cannot pass an unfamiliar dog without overacting to the other dog’s presence, stop reading this post and find a professional dog trainer who can help you and your dog.
Dogs may be overreacting to other dogs, people, or even objects, for a variety of reasons, which is why you need a professional dog trainer asking you pointed questions about your dog’s behavior and observing how your dog handles different situations.
Lizzie is a reactive dog on a journey to becoming a well-balanced dog with the help of our professional dog trainer. Lizzie’s overreactions to dogs when she’s on leash or the other side of a barrier like a fence stem from fear.
I totally feel for our littlest Labradoodle. It’s got to be hard being a smaller dog. In October 2019, Lizzie spent four weeks with our trainer learning that the world is not as scary as she may think. Since then, I’ve been implementing the strategies our trainer recommended and Lizzie’s growth has been impressive.
If you have a reactive dog, find a professional dog trainer who can help you and your dog. Progress may not always be easy, but if you’re willing to put in the work to support your dog, you will see improvement over time.
Assess how your dog feels about other dogs
If your dog is not a reactive dog, then your next step is to observe or recall your dog’s play style and body language around other dogs. If you’re unsure how to describe your dog’s behavior, then ask your dog trainer to watch your dog playing. Paying for a one-hour consultation to learn more about your dog’s body language will be money well spent.
Does your dog enjoy being around other dogs?
Does your dog put up with just about any kind of behavior from other dogs?
Does your dog have a few select dog friends?
Does your dog avoid unfamiliar dogs?
Does your dog like playing in a large group of dogs?
Does your dog prefer playing one-on-one with another dog?
Does your dog correct other dogs if he perceives rude behavior?
Does your dog over-correct other dogs if he perceives rude behavior?
Does your dog snap or bark at dogs that challenge him or a resource he wants?
Reflecting on how your dog feels about other dogs, gives you some insight to how your dog may react to a neutral dog on the CGC Test. And thankfully, any dog used on the CGC Test for task #8 will be a neutral dog.
If your dog is more selective with who he plays with, then ignoring a neutral dog may be easier for him.
If your dog is Mr. Friend-To-All combined with impulse control issues, then you need to be prepared for your dog to really want to meet that neutral dog. If your dog crosses in front of you or behind you to try to greet the other dog, you will fail the CGC Test.
Learning to be neutral around other dogs may take time, so start mindfully practicing this test task as soon as possible.
Finding dog distractions in a safe environment
One challenge is to find a place where you’ve got an ideal number of dogs. Not too many or practice will be overwhelming, but not too few or both you and your dog will get bored.
Another challenge is finding this perfect dog spot where you and your dog will be safe. While the majority of the dogs you encounter will be friendly, you do need to consider that some dog owners have no control over their lunging dog.
You need to be prepared to make the most of your training time.
Wear your treat pouch front and center for these field trips. If you look like a dog trainer, many people will assume that you are. Others will see that you’re working with your dog and probably respect your space.
Aside from working on neutral dog, have a short list of other commands you could be practicing and honing with your dog between neutral dog exercises.
sit & down
look or watch me
touch
loose-leash walking, especially stops and turns
tricks
Ask your dog trainer for personalized ideas.
Write these ideas down somewhere. If you like pen & paper, keep a small notebook with you so you can refer to it. If you prefer digital, use Evernote or another app to collect your ideas on your phone.
Where can you go to practice your dog reacting neutrally to another dog?
Drop-in dog obedience classes
Ask around for trainers who hold drop-in obedience classes. They’re usually affordable plus the flexible schedule lets you practice when you can.
If you can find more than one drop-in obedience class, you’re giving your dog even more opportunities to work with different trainers, different dogs, in different environments. Wins all around!
Our dog trainer holds a drop-in obedience class at a local park on Saturdays. She consistently asks people if there are specific skills they want to work on. Another dog trainer in the area holds weekly drop-in therapy dog classes, so every class includes at least one exercise that requires neutral dog.
Finding those training opportunities will give you valuable feedback and training tips.
Dog walks
Choose a few dog-walking destinations for their popularity with other dog owners. A park with winding pathways is a great place to practice passing other dogs.
Again, find a time of day for your walk when other dogs will be around, but you won’t feel overwhelmed.
As you approach other dogs, decide which side of you your dog will be on. Keeping your dog on your outside farthest away from an approaching dog is the safest choice.
Watch the body language of your dog and the approaching dog. Create more distance if you sense too much energy from either or both dogs.
As you pass the other dog, watch your dog. If he’s paying attention to you or behaving calmly, mark those positive choices with a “Yes!” and give him a treat.
If your dog tries moving toward the other dog, you need to correct that improper course heading.
If your dog is on your outside but next to you, you can walk slightly away from the other dog. You’re creating spatial pressure to push your dog away from the other just by your movement.
You could try a verbal marker like “uh uh” to let your dog know that choice was not the correct one.
You could also try saying your dog’s name, making kissy noises, or patting your hand on your leg to remind your dog that you don’t meet other dogs when on leash.
Local pet stores or groomers
Start visiting local pet stores or groomers on weekdays. Weekends or days with special events may be too crowded. Also, avoid showing up right when a groomer first opens since they could have several people showing up to drop off their dogs for the day.
Stand outside on the sidewalk. If your dog seems nervous, start farther away from the entrance and slowly work toward the door. Keep at least six feet away from the door. If people are using six-foot leashes, then you should dodge any overly friendly dogs.
When you see a dog entering or exiting the store, place your dog in a sit-stay.
Reward your dog as needed. In the beginning, you may need to reward your dog as the other dog approaches, passes, and enters the store or parking lot. As your dog grows accustomed to this exercise, you should be able to fade the treats, but keep up verbal praise and pets.
If you’ve taught your dog look or watch me, using that command in this setting should help your dog focus on you rather than the other dog.
Be aware of your surroundings. You want to keep you and your dog safe.
If you see a lunging dog coming your way, you may want to quickly relocate your dog father from that entrance. If you see a distracted person on their cell phone leading a dog on a retractable lead, you might want to move away.
Keep these sidewalk training sessions short. You can decide ahead of time that you’ll spend no more than 15 minutes practicing at this location, or you can set a goal like waiting for five dogs to pass by before you move on.
Remember to end on a good note. Even if a dog walks past, and your dog breaks his sit-stay, regroup. If you’re ready to go, ask your dog to perform a trick or command that he’s got down. When he rocks that behavior, heap on the praise. Then move on.
Dog parks
Walking quietly and calmly by a dog park can be a challenge for many dogs. To set your dog up for success, please don’t try this exercise when the dog park is full. Find times when there are just a few dogs in the dog park. If there are just one or two dogs in there, even better!
Spend a few minutes observing the dog park from a distance first. If you see dog fights, hear people arguing, or just sense too much negative energy, pass on your practice session.
You’re looking for a dog park where dogs are playing harmoniously. They might be high energy dogs, but there’s little or no drama.
Determine how much distance you need to keep between your dog and the fence.
Slowly walk toward the fence observing your dog’s behavior. If your dog starts pulling, lunging, whining, or otherwise acting overly excited, you’ve crossed the threshold where he could be successful. Take a few steps back, and remember to keep that distance consistent as you walk.
You could also try putting your dog on the side of you farthest away from the fence.
Walk around the exterior of the dog park with your dog. Don’t go near the entrance. Make it clear to your dog that you’re staying outside of the dog park. If the dog park is huge, choose one section to walk along.
You want to keep your dog’s attention on you while you’re walking this exterior. Call his name. Use the look or watch me commands. Have treats ready for the good boy who pays attention to you.
When he looks at the dogs in the dog park calmly, mark that positive behavior with a “Yes!” and reward him for not reacting.
While you’re walking the exterior, if your dog is getting anxious, pulling toward the fence, or seeming overly excited, you’ve crossed his threshold for what he can handle. Maybe you’re too close to the fence. Maybe there’s a specific dog he’s noticing. Maybe two minutes of walking calmly around the fence was too much for your dog and you need to shorten the exercise.
Practicing more formally for the CGC Test
Once your dog can walk by other dogs without reacting, you’ll want to practice how you’ll manage your dog for the actual CGC Test.
Initially, you could practice this routine with just another person. This low-level of practice will help you think through what you’ll be doing. If you have a friend with a neutral dog, you could ask them for help. As you feel more confident with this task, you will want to attend a CGC or similar class where you can practice with another person and their neutral dog.
Place your dog on your left, so they’re on your outside as you and the other person walk toward one another.
Use a cue like “Let’s go” to tell your dog you’re moving forward together.
When you and the other person meet, place your dog in a sit-stay.
Your dog is not required to sit for this part of the CGC Text; however, if you’ve trained a reliable sit-stay, then that level of impulse control your dog has will come in handy as you meet this other person.
If your dog is standing, his desire to meet the other dog might overcome him because you have not given him a direct instruction. He’s just standing there, hanging out. Help your dog understand the task by giving him that direct sit-stay command.
You need to shake the other person’s hand and carry on a brief conversation.
When you end the conversation, give your dog a visual cue as you walk away from the other dog. You could pat your leg gently or extend your hand in front of your dog like you’re luring him to a touch command.
Keep him focused on moving forward. You don’t want him getting distracted by the other dog and darting behind you at the last second.
Remember, your dog may need more time to practice neutral dog behavior, so be sure to start early and be consistent with how often you’re rewarding your dog for reacting calmly to other dogs.
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