Understanding Reactivity in Dogs
Reactive behavior or "reactivity" in dogs is often misunderstood. A reactive dog isn't "bad" or "aggressive"—they're overwhelmed and overreacting to certain stimuli (cars, other dogs, etc.) due to fear, pain, frustration or lack of coping skills. What your dog overreacts to are called their "triggers." Learning to recognize early signs of reactivity help you support your dog through the healing process.
Common Signs of Reactivity:
Physical Signs
✅ Stiff Body Language – A reactive dog often tenses up when they see a trigger. ✅ Ears Pinned Forward or Back – Alertness or stress can cause extreme ear positions.
✅ Hackles Raised – The fur along their spine may stand up, indicating heightened arousal.
✅ Tail High and Stiff or Tucked – A stiff tail can mean overarousal, while a tucked tail signals fear.
NOTE: Dog body language is complex and must be observed in context to correctly interpret it's meaning. For example, raised hackles can also mean that your dog is excited to play with their friends.
Behavioral Signs
✅ Lunging at People, Dogs or Objects – Reactivity often appears as sudden movement toward a perceived threat.
✅ Barking, Growling or Snarling – Aggressive sounding vocals often accompany lunging. but can also signify reactivity on their own depending on context.
✅ Spinning or Jumping – Some dogs release stress by spinning or hopping around. Some dogs will also turn and jump on you!
✅ Paw Lifting or Freezing – A frozen stance can indicate fear, internal conflict or indecision.
Emotional & Stress Responses
✅ Hyper-Vigilance – A reactive dog scans their environment constantly, unable to settle. If you have a reactive dog you likely find yourself doing this as well!
✅ Panting When Not Hot or Exercised – A stress response showing fear or nervousness, sometimes accompanied by drooling.
✅ Dilated Pupils or a "Hard Stare" – Intense focus on the trigger, often with no blinking. "Whale eye" (when the whites of the eye show) is also a sign of fear, stress and discomfort.
✅ Refusing Food – If your dog won’t take treats, their stress level is likely too high to focus.
Subtle Signs of Stress
✅ Whining or Yawning Excessively – Considered a displacement behavior, whining, crying and yawning help to release stress.
✅ Lip Licking – Licking of the lips is another way dogs express discomfort similar to whining and yawning.
✅ Trembling or Shaking – As with humans, shaking/trembling due to adrenaline results from fear, excitement or overstimulation.
✅ Sudden Scratching or Sniffing the Ground – This is a way for dogs to self-soothe and disengage from a stressful situation.
Why Does Reactivity Happen?
Reactivity has several underlying causes, including:
Pain – Pain is the most overlooked cause of reactive behavior. If your dog displays any of the signs above, your first step is a check-up to rule out a medical cause.
Fear or Anxiety – Many reactive dogs feel unsafe and overreact as a defense mechanism.
Frustration – If your dog wants to interact with a person or other dog and can’t, especially when on leash, their frustration can cause reactive behavior.
Past Trauma – Just like people, negative experiences can create long-lasting reactivity triggers similar to PTSD.
Lack of Socialization – Dogs who weren't exposed to a variety of environments and experiences while growing up can approach new situations with fear (reactivity) rather than the curiosity of a well-adjusted pup.
Genetics – Some dog breeds and/or individuals are predisposed to higher levels of sensitivity. Dogs can also be born more anxious if their mother was anxious during pregnancy.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Reactive
The good news? Reactivity can be managed and improved with the right approach. Here’s how:
Identify Your Dog's Triggers – Observe what causes your dog to act out. Keep a record of what you observe to get a clear picture of your dogs triggers.
Avoid Confrontation – Unlike people, dogs should never be expected to "face their fears" as this will only make the problem worse. Unless you can create a scenario in which your dog has a positive experience of their trigger, move to a safe distance away so your dog feels safe and can trust you know what to do.
Use Positive Reinforcement Training Methods – Reward your dog's calm behavior and work with a professional positive trainer to 1) teach your dog to create positive associations with their triggers, and 2) teach your dog appropriate ways to express their emotions.
Teach Your Dog Alternate Behaviors – Use distraction and redirection to help your dog avoid and ignore triggers while working on changing their emotional response to those triggers.
Work with a Professional – Working with reactive dog behavior has become a specialized area of dog training. Be sure to work with a trainer who has experience successfully working with reactive dogs.
Final Thoughts
Reactivity isn’t about a dog being "bad"—it’s a sign that your dog is struggling and needs support and guidance. Learning to recognize the signs of reactive behavior early and using compassionate science-based training, you'll help your dog learn to navigate the world with confidence.
👉 Need Help with a Reactive Dog? Take my free course on how to calm your reactive dog on walks.
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