Leash reactivity is one of the most common behavioral welfare issues in companion dogs, causing distress during walks and limiting quality of life for both dogs and their owners.
Leash reactivity causes welfare harm in multiple ways. The reactive episode itself involves a state of high arousal and fear that is unpleasant for the dog. Anticipatory anxiety before walks, common in highly reactive dogs, means distress begins before the trigger is encountered. Dogs that are walked less due to reactivity miss exercise and social opportunities that are important for wellbeing. The negative social consequences of reactivity — owners avoiding walks, other owners moving away, and social embarrassment — can reduce the quality of the human-dog relationship. Treatment with systematic desensitization transforms walks from anxiety-provoking experiences into manageable, even positive ones, with substantial improvement in welfare for both dog and owner.