Is It Wheelie a Big Deal? Dogs' Reactivity to Bikes, Skateboards, Roller-blades, Scooters, and Other Wheels

Leash reactivity in general can be difficult to deal with. When dogs lunge and bark at people going by on wheels, emotions can be high, and it doesn't make a good impression on your neighbors! In this guide, we talk about what's going on with this behavior and how to potentially solve it.

Why are dogs reactive to things on wheels?

1. Most dogs are hardwired to chase things that move quickly.

2. The restraint of the leash causes frustration.

3. The appearance of skateboards and scooters can be startling, and their noises can be agitating.

When you mix all of that together, you often get reactivity!

Does reactivity mean aggression?

Reactivity and aggression are like sisters. They have a lot in common, but they don't necessarily have all of the same ideas.

But let me put it to you this way: the way that most wheel-reactive dogs "rev up" – or, to use dog trainer jargon, "go into drive" – when they see something on wheels whiz by is extremely similar in appearance to how we intentionally teach dogs to bite in bite-work training.

Many bite-work dogs are also able to say hi nicely and be pet by even the same people that "decoy" for them. So while this behavior can be aggressive, it doesn't necessarily mean that your dog is "an aggressive dog" or bad. Behavior is nuanced!

Why is it so hard to work on reactivity to bikes, skateboards, roller-blades, scooters, etc.?

It's tough to work on wheel reactivity because typically, the wheeled person appears suddenly, speeds past you, and then is gone. In an ideal training situation, you would be able to ask them to come back multiple times so you can "work your dog through" the trigger! But by the time you remember what you're supposed to be doing, the moment is over.

For this reason, I have created the workshop Is It Wheelie a Big Deal? (At the time this was written, the class is running September 2026. Maybe we will do more!)

In this class, we will have a parade of wheels going by multiple times so that the dog has time to process their feelings and move past the over-excitement.

What training techniques should I use?

There are a few techniques that you can use to work on changing your dog's feelings about (and behavior around) wheels.

Slowing down the wheels

Having a wheeled person move slowly and even interact with the dog, feed treats etc. could potentially change your dog's mind about what a person on wheels means. Similarly, having a trusted friend who your dog already loves on wheels can help their perception of what's going on. However, it's important to connect the dots by also having this person speed back up again in front of your dog.

Habituation/desensitization

The most casual way possible to explain the concept of habituation is simply "getting used to it." The main technique here is spending a long period of time with the trigger, without needing fancier training techniques.

If you can't attend the workshop Is It Wheelie a Big Deal, you can recreate this exposure scenario by hanging out in a grassy field next to a busy skate park!

Warning – bad desensitization attempts can create sensitization: You need to utilize distance from the trigger so that the dog is calm, and then you can get closer and closer gradually. The session is not productive if the dog is just, for example, spending an hour freaking out. Reacting for a long period of time does not count as desensitizing and can actually instead make a dog more reactive. Not all exposure is good exposure.

"Standard" counter-conditioning: food is calm

If treats can be used to create a calm emotion and/or an association with looking to the handler instead of the wheels, simply pairing wheels with food could be an effective training method for your dog.

Sniffing is calmer: Throwing treats in grass to sniff out, if your dog stays committed to the task, will likely create more calm than handing them to your dog.

Opposite angle: using play as an energy outlet around wheels

For dogs who have a really hard time calming down around wheels, it might be more effective to (at least at first) focus on directing their energy to playing with you and a toy. This can essentially provide relief and at least channel the excitement to an "appropriate" behavior that is not reactivity.

Obedience skills to create a thinking/non-impulsive mindset: eye contact, turning away, etc

Using known training skills such as asking for eye contact, turning away from a trigger, coming when called, stays, etc. can provide helpful guidance to your dog about what they should be doing instead of reacting.

Should punishment be used in reactivity training?

This is something I would recommend only working on with a professional. A well-timed correction given with skill can save a session by calming the dog down and allowing them to get back to learning.

I'm adding this so that other dog trainers don't get mad at me about technicality: *and a technical definition of the word punishment means the correction would teach a dog to confidently avoid undesired behavior.*

But a poorly timed correction given without skill can accidentally have the opposite effect than intended. If your correction does not effectively calm the dog down, you might even be reinforcing the reactive behavior by teaching the dog to push through pressure while continuing to freak out. In other words, a bad attempt at correction/punishment can create determination to react. We don't want that!

Poorly delivered correction and punishment can also generally create negative associations with the handler and create stress in your relationship with your dog.

If you feel stuck in your training and suspect punishment may help, or if you've been taught by another trainer to use punishment and aren't happy with the results, I encourage you to reach out for help.

Extra credit homework

Maybe if you are feeling very fancy, you might even teach your dog to run next to you while you bike, roller-blade, etc. You can also teach your dog to ride a skateboard as a trick. I can't promise this will help their reactivity, but I promise it will help you impress your friends.

Happy training!

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Venus and Mars K9 provides in-home private dog training and group class for basic obedience, puppy socialization, trick training, dog sport foundations, leash reactivity training, and other canine behavior problems. We travel most frequently to neighborhoods such as Humboldt Park, Hermosa, Logan Square, Avondale, West Town, South Loop, Downtown Chicago, Ukrainian Village, Bucktown, Wicker Park, East Garfield Park, Fulton Market, North Center, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Roscoe Village, Irving Park, Portage Park, Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Pilsen, and Bridgeport.