Reactive behavior in dogs has become increasingly common and it can be incredibly difficult - not to mention stressful - for dog owners to manage.
As a dog trainer who specializes in working with reactive dogs, I always want to educate people on what's really going on with these dogs. My work is dedicated to supporting reactive dogs and the humans who love them.
The word "reactive" is really just an umbrella term for a range of behaviors expressed by anxious and fearful dogs. Frustration and over-excitement can also result in reactive behaviors. You'll see some people refer to these dogs as having "very big feelings" which I low-key can't stand because if feels like it somehow minimizes the dog's experience. Not to mention love is a "very big feeling" and we welcome that from our pups. I'm sure it's just meant as a way to help people understand what's going on with their dog; I just don't like it.
If you live with a reactive dog, you know it's a life altering experience - and not always in a good way! Being successful with your reactive dog involves changing not just your dog handling skills, but also your routines and mindset around how dogs think and learn.
My Journey with Reactive Dogs
I’ve worked with countless reactive dogs, but my journey into dog training began with one special dog: Jake. He was my first dog and he was highly reactive. Jake's behavior initially felt overwhelming and even scary. However, I came to understand that the underlying emotions to most reactive behavior are fear and anxiety.
Dog Reactivity Defined
All dog behavior is communication. Thus, to react is to communicate thoughts, feelings and emotions. A reaction is “an action taken in response to a stimulus.” Reactions themselves aren’t inherently bad; in fact, they’re essential for survival. For example, we might react to a kind word with a smile or to a dangerous situation with a flight-or-fight response. The reaction itself is a response to something in the environment.
When we talk about “reactive” dogs, we’re referring to over-reactions—responses that are far more intense than the situation warrants.
For example, an appropriate reaction might be a dog growling when another dog jumps on their back.
In contrast, an Over-Reaction is a dog barking, lunging and generally freaking out simply because they see another dog on the opposite side of a field.
Reactive behavior is part of the fight or flight response which is a physiological reaction that occurs when the body perceives a threat or danger. Fight or flight is a survival mechanism that helps creatures react quickly to life-threatening situations. This phenomenon of a creature reacting to non-threatening circumstances as if they are life and death in not exclusive to dogs. Humans do the same thing, albeit in a less aggressive fashion. For example, if you shake and sweat while giving a presentation, that's your body's fight response acting on the anxiety you feel over your performance. Your body doesn't know the difference between a real and a perceived threat. Neither does your dog's body.
When dogs react to a non-threatening situation as if it is life or death, they often bark, growl and pull/lunge when on leash. This is the most common response to perceived fear triggers such as other dogs, children, bicycles, etc. However, reactive behavior can also look like "flight" where your dog freezes and refuses to move or tries to hide in response to perceived threats. In essence, reactivity is comparable to a human experiencing a phobia—it’s a fear-based over-reaction to a benign situation. To you it may seem like your dog's fear of a skateboard is silly but to your dog it truly feels like a life or death situation.
What Causes Dog Reactivity?
Reactivity can be caused by a number of factors. Some are within our control but, honestly, most aren't. Reactive dog behavior can be caused by:
Under-socialization: Socialization is such a vital component to a dog's upbringing that veterinarians now see it as even more vital than the risk of illness in puppies who haven't yet been fully vaccinated. In order to grow up confident, a dog must be exposed to many life experiences in puppyhood. When this doesn't happen, the dog is at risk of growing up fearful and developing reactive behaviors.
Negative experiences: Traumatic or frightening incidents can result in a dog developing over-reactions to benign situations in the same way people with PTSD can be triggered by non-threatening sights and sounds.
Genetics: Some breeds or individual dogs are predisposed to higher sensitivity or anxiety due to genetics or the experiences of their pregnant mother. Obviously, genetics aren't something a dog parent can do anything about outside of seeking out responsible breeders if they aren't adopting their dog.
Illness or pain: Medical issues can increase and even cause a dog’s sensitivity to certain stimuli. If a dog associates their pain with other dogs for any reason (regardless of whether other dogs are the true cause), it can cause them to have negative emotions towards the presence of other dogs, resulting in reactive behavior.
Any one - or a combination of - the above reasons can contribute to your dog developing one or more reactive behaviors.
How to Help a Reactive Dog
As stressful as a dog's reactive behavior can be for them and their owner, there are things you can do to reduce and even eliminate the underlying fear causing the problem. First, it’s important to remember your dog isn’t being difficult or disobedient on purpose. They are struggling and doing their best to manage their fear in the only way they know how. With time, patience and the right approach, you can help your dog increase their confidence, decrease their fear and learn to feel safe in the world. You can also learn new handling skills to help your dog avoid triggers and to respond differently to them when they can't be avoided.
Here are some of the proven strategies I like and use:
1. Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning (DS/CC)
These training techniques are at the heart of reactivity work and change your dog’s emotional response to triggers. For example, pairing the presence of a feared stimulus (like another dog) with something positive (like treats) from a safe distance (under threshold) will help your dog associate that trigger with good things instead of fear.
2. Confidence-Building & Anxiety Reducing Activities
Engaging your dog in enrichment activities that both boost their confidence and reduce their anxiety helps improve their ability to ignore triggers and bounce back from reactive experiences. Examples of confidence building and anxiety reducing activities include agility and nose work, trick training, general manners training, relationship building activities, activities that allow your dog to engage in natural behaviors such as sniffing, chewing and licking and many other fun things you can do with your dog.
3. Medication
For some dogs with severe anxiety, medication prescribed by a veterinarian can be a game-changer. It’s worth discussing this option if your dog’s reactivity is extreme. Bear in mind that most medications can take several weeks to a month or more for results to be noticeable.
4. Understanding Triggers and Warning Signs
You can support your dog by learning to recognize their triggers (i.e., anything they are afraid of like other dogs, strangers, loud noises, etc.). Observe your dog's body language so you recognize their early warning signs of a reaction (i.e., raised hackles, freezing, stiff body and/or staring). That way you can intervene before a reaction ever happens which will reduce your dog's stress and aid in teaching them they have nothing to fear.
5. Improving Co-Walking Skills
Think of walking your dog similarly to how you think of walking with a friend. You are there to focus on your companion rather than use the time to check your phone. Learn proper leash handling skills and teach your dog to walk politely on their leash. In this way, you build trust with your dog and create opportunities for positive experiences which both strengthens your emotional bond and reduces your dog's stress during walks.
A Journey, Not a Destination
It’s important to set realistic expectations for yourself and your dog. While some reactive dogs can overcome their fears entirely, others may always have some level of reactive response. For example, my beautiful boy, Jake, made remarkable progress over the years we were together. Still, he was never comfortable playing with other dogs. However, his improved behavior meant we could enjoy peaceful walks together—a huge win.
Join a Supportive Community
Parenting a reactive dog is stressful and isolating. Despite that, you’re not alone. I'm parent to a highly reactive dog still (my girl I adopted after Jake passed is far more reactive than he ever was) and, although it is more work than parenting a happy go lucky pup, I wouldn't trade Shadow Dawn in for any other dog. As a dog mom and certified dog trainer specializing in working with reactive dogs and their humans, I’ve created many resources to support you. One of my favorites is my weekly email newsletter where I share tips, tools and resources to make parenting your reactive dog easier and a lot more fun. Subscribe here today.
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