The city dog and the country dog - urban living with a reactive dog.
This July I was fortunate enough to to fly across Canada to visit the big city of Toronto, Ontario. While this trip was purely for pleasure, my professional eye can’t help but get caught on dogs wherever I may go.
I was genuinely shocked by the number of dogs I encountered while walking down the congested sidewalks of the city. Even more than that, all these dogs appeared to be thriving.
It got me thinking about what it would take to navigate a busy, noisy, city environment with a dog, but particularly a dog who struggles with reactivity or sensitivity to stimuli in the environment.
How would this work?
I reached out to four dog guardians who are currently, or have recently, lived in an urban environment with their pooch to get the details.
How do potty breaks work, especially if you’re living in a high-rise building. What do you do if your dog isn’t interested in the building’s green space?
“Olive” (guardian Becky) in New York City.
B: To get outside, we almost always take the stairs, because it allows me to see through the window into the lobby, where there is a visual barrier for Olive. Sometimes the doorman will warn me of (triggers) outside and will tell me which way to turn to avoid them. Once outside, Olive is more than happy to potty on the pavement.
J: We currently live in a building where there is no dog run so we have to walk the dogs through the neighborhood. We use the freight elevator and go out the emergency exit into the alley. Sometimes our dogs will even pee in the alley, so that helps for (evening) potty breaks.
How do you manage a reactive dog with the hustle and bustle of regular city life?
B: We do a lot of things to support Olive, but while we live in Manhattan, fully shielding her from her triggers is just not possible. Medication is a big part of our management plan. On the more practical side, you’ll often find us ducking behind piles of trash, construction, or really any visual barrier that exists in the environment. We never leave the house without snacks, and have a well practiced go find/flight cue combo. When she does get triggered, my traffic handle leash and harness with handle (allows me) to restrain her until she’s able to respond to me again.
J: My partner takes my other dog (not reactive) ahead to make sure we are clear when coming around corners. Our last resort is to ask a person to wait if they are (approaching) and we have nowhere else to go - people are not always responsive to this. We also have a “retreat” cue that we use when needed to et out of a situation. We use scatter feeds when needed to (redirect) his attention or help him come down following a reaction.
Br: We never took the elevator in my apartment building and utilized the stairs.
A: I would always plan escape routes to create space between her and her (triggers.) I always bring treats with me and pay attention to her body language.
What challenges do you face when trying to meet your dog’s needs (ex. digging)?
J: We know of a trail about an hour outside of the city that we will go to for long walks with lots of sniffs. We do different enrichment activities at home like lick pads, snuffle mats, and long-lasting chews. One of the best things that ever happened to us is Sniff Spot - we rent a yard on a weekly basis so the dogs have a private space to run and sniff!
Br: I drive out of the city so Chance can run and chase his ball. He also loves to swim, so we take him to a local dog pool.
“Sofie” (guardian Allison) in Houston, Texas. Sofie is wearing a GPS tracking collar.
A: I’m a huge fan of Sniff Spots; I will take her to one almost every weekend. I also have a small sandbox filled with dirt for her to dig in the yard, and a ball pit for sniffing/scatter feeding in the living room (yes, the living room!)
What’s one of the biggest struggles you’ve faced while living in the city with your dog?
B: Olive has both separation anxiety and is reactive do gods, so I think the biggest challenge is giving both of us a break. Having an R+ trainer in my corner t ask for guidance and support is key.
J: Living in the city with a dog who is not reactive is pretty easy - Chicago has lots of parks, dog parks, and greenery for them. Since we got our (reactive dog) it has been increasingly difficult; every walk has to be strategic to try and avoid triggers.
Br: When Chance was young and more energetic, finding ways for him to go play and run. After COVID, we found there were a lot more reactive and anxious dogs in the neighborhood, which was really hard for Chance. Fireworks go off all the time in this city, not just on holidays!
A: The biggest struggle I face is rogue, off-leash dogs in on-leash places, like parks.
What additional challenges are there owning a reactive dog in an urban environment?
“Tony” resting his head on “Bill” (guardian Jessica) in Chicago.
B: I didn’t realize how many things my dog would need to be neutral to while living in Manhattan. Neutrality to drag queens, kids swinging light sabers, and luggage carts are on our list of training goals at the moment!
J: Chicago has a LOT of dogs! Since we do not have our own yard it is hard to take our reactive dog out on potty breaks.
Br: If someone is walking towards me and I need to move away to (get) Chance space, there isn’t always somewhere for us to quickly move to. People don’t always understand what it means to have a reactive dog and don’t always respect the boundaries that I put in place for my dog and I.
What’s something that surprised you as a dog guardian living in the city?
B: Off-leash dogs approaching are much less of a concern for us than dog guardians in other areas.
J: Chicago is very dog friendly if your dog is not reactive. For those who don’t have a yard, Sniff Spot has seriously changed our lives!
Br: Resources - dog walkers, dog boarding, dog trainers!
A: The ease of finding enrichment classes and opportunities, training/sporting classes, and “pay-to-play” activities like dog swimming pools.
As a certified dog trainer, I think it’s important to remind ourselves about the basics of behavior management and modification. Whether we’re navigating the animated streets of Chicago, or a docile country road, we want to make sure we:
Meet our dog’s needs - finding outlets for normal dog behaviors that are safe and appropriate for them, and ensuring these needs are being met on a daily basis before we ever consider modifying behavior. Yes, this might require some creativity and some travel to accomplish, but as the dog guardians above has shown us, this is possible.
Manage the environment - easier said than done, I know, but there are some things we can do to help prevent our dog from ending up in a situation they are not equipped to handle. Have an exit strategy should you encounter your dog’s trigger, bring treats with you on all outings, ensure your dog is wearing secure, well-fitting equipment, pay attention, and advocate for your dog (don’t be afraid to speak up, and speak boldly!)
Set our dog up for success - only ask from your dog what you are confident they can handle. This might mean driving somewhere else for your walks, walking at “off hours” of the day, or replacing walks with other exercise opportunities.
Teach your dog helpful skills - emergency skills such as retreat or flight cues, treat scatters to redirect their attention, or a “get behind” cue can all be invaluable should you need to navigate a tricky trigger.
Develop a support system - whether that’s friends, family, a certified dog trainer, dog walker, Veterinary Behaviorist, or all of the above, gather support. Reactivity can be a grueling road, but it’s not one you need to walk alone.
Ask for help - if you’re struggling, or don’t know how to manage your dog’s behavior, contact a certified trainer. There are plenty of resources available to dog guardians, and the majority of dog trainers work remotely with clients across the globe.
A huge thank you to Bridget, Jessica, Allison, and Becky for sharing your experience, tips, and your dogs with us.
Keep rocking that city life, and never stop advocating for your dog.
Stay awesome,
Vanessa
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Vanessa Charbonneau, is the author of Dog Care for Puppies: A guide to Feeding, Playing, Grooming and Behavior. She owns Sit Pretty Behavior & Training, employing force-free training techniques to work with companion dogs and their owners. Charbonneau lives in Prince George, BC with her husband, two daughters, and one dog.