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What Triggers a Dog on the Trail? An Expert Weighs In.

In light of multiple alleged dog-related assaults on trails, �����ԹϺ��� consulted a canine behavioral researcher to learn more about training and protecting our furry best friends

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Top tip? Become your dog's main source of fun (Photo: Artur Debat/Getty Images)

Dogs undoubtedly have a place in the outdoors, but how that looks depends on who is asked. Some insist that if the owners are responsible, the presence of off-leash dogs can actually make the outdoors a better place. Untethered pups can spark joy and wonder both on and off the trail. Still, many argue that if a trail says “Dogs on Leash,” recreationalists should respect the rules.

In two recent incidents in Arizona and Colorado, police say that three individuals walking dogs assaulted or threatened other hikers after allegedly . Following the altercations, �����ԹϺ��� spoke with a dog behavioral expert for insight into what triggers our trail comrades and how best to respond during stressful situations.

is a researcher studying animal behavior at Virginia Tech University. She is also the author of a published in September that investigates how a dog’s environment influences its behavior. And when it comes to issues on the trail, Sexton said how our dogs respond is due to a combination of factors, including nature and nurture.

Certain behaviors might be expected with a particular breed or breed makeup. Australian shepherds, for example, are herders, and it’s in their nature to corral people and animals on the trail.

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“Some of that drive, some of those instincts, are just going to come out,” Sexton told �����ԹϺ���. She adds that while the concept of nature versus nurture is somewhat oversimplistic, there is truth to the argument when it comes to dog behavior.

“Dogs are individuals, and there are critical development periods that they go through, just like human infants. Whatever they’re exposed to during those periods is going to influence, to an extent, their outcomes later in life, and that may be behaviorally,” she said.

Drive, breed, and instinct can all influence how a dog responds to their environment. In addition to their nature, a dog’s discipline and past negative associations may also affect how they react to certain stimuli.

Leashes Can Be Counterintuitive to Dogs

Dogs are searchers, seekers and hunters—all characteristics that make them both endearing and challenging to be on leash.

“Being on a leash is not a preferred state of being. It’s requiring them at every step to match our pace and to override their instinctive operating procedure,” said Sexton. “They experience the world through smell, and we’re limiting them by keeping them tethered. That automatically is causing both a literal and an experiential emotional tension for them.”

Pay Attention to Subtle Cues

The source of a dog’s trigger may not be fully understood, but an owner needs to pay attention and understand when and how their dog is activated, especially in reactive dogs.

Sexton advises owners to pay attention to their dog’s subtle cues, learn how they communicate, and understand what their experience of the world is—this is our job as their guardians.

“We have first to acknowledge that dogs are individuals. There are groups of traits that we might anticipate them to display, but just like a person, if you had a bad day, you might act differently,” notes Sexton.

Sudden Changes in Behavior May Indicate a More Serious Issue

Just like a baby may be fussier than usual when sick, unusual or sudden behavioral changes in a dog can indicate a physical issue. Dogs can’t communicate that they’re ill, but they may act more aggressively or intensely than normal when they’re injured or not feeling well.

Sexton adds that environmental changes can also impact how a dog is feeling and responding to the world around them.

Become Your Dog’s Main Source of Fun

This is where reward-based training comes into play. Reward-based training involves offering treats, praise, or toys to your dog when they exhibit behaviors that you want to reinforce. These “bonding exercises” also reinforce the human-dog relationship, deepening the connection while the dog creates a positive association with their owner.

“You can do them for five minutes a day. That’s just reinforcing the relationship you have with your dog so that when you are out on the trail and something more exciting has caught their attention, there’s a higher likelihood that they’re going to remember you and tune back in quicker before a situation gets potentially dangerous,” said Sexton.

Bonding exercises can be as simple as revisiting an old trick or playing hide-and-seek. Any activity where the dog sees you as a source of fun will deepen their attachment and make them return to you time and again.

When it comes to taking your dog outdoors, having a clear understanding of their behavioral triggers will also help them perform better on the trail.