My 3-year-old golden retriever is usually really calm indoors, but the moment we get outside on the leash he goes crazy barking at literally every dog we pass. It's embarrassing and I'm worried he's becoming reactive. We've been doing walks for years and this behavior only started about 6 months ago. Is this normal or should I be concerned?
Has anything changed in your daily routine or the routes you usually take - like different times of day, busier areas, or maybe less exercise before walks? Dogs sometimes develop leash reactivity out of frustration or pent-up energy, especially if their routine shifts.
The fact that he's calm at home but loses it outside suggests it's likely leash-specific frustration rather than actual aggression, but six months is a solid stretch so you might want to work on it before it gets more ingrained.
I'd try giving him way more exercise before walks (like a solid play session) and consider mixing in quieter routes while you're training him to stay calm - redirection with treats works better than most people think.
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