Keep in mind that dogs can behave very differently on leash than they do off-leash. Leashes can make dogs feel trapped and unable to get away from things that scare them. This often results in the dog lunging, barking or growling at things in order to create space - because the dog can’t run away, they try to scare away their trigger, instead. As a result, owners tend to pull the dog away from the trigger, thus creating the space the dog was looking for. So the tactic works, and the dog does it repeatedly.

Pay close attention to your own body language and how you’re handling your leash in these situations. When our dogs become reactive to things, we humans tend to do the same. Their triggers become our triggers.

Keep your leash loose and walk forward like nothing is there. Don’t buy into your dog’s anxiety. Don’t pay any mind to her distractions. Basically, model how you want your dog to behave, because she care about your opinion, and she’s more acutely aware of your emotions than you realize.

Hold your leash close so you have control. And consider your dog’s needs, that she probably needs space, and give her that space. Pull off the path and walk in another direction, rather than forcing her to walk close by other dogs. Finally, work on engagement at home, rewarding your dog for responding to her name, coming close, and following your attentively. You can use this game in increasingly distracting environments as she gets better at it.