Reactivity or Aggression?

One of the most common misconceptions I hear is that reactive dogs are aggressive. While the behaviours may look similar, the intentions behind them are very different.

Your dog might be:

• Barking, growling, or snarling

• Lunging or pulling hard on the lead

• Struggling to calmly pass other dogs

From my experience, most reactive dogs I work with are actually fear-reactive. Their reactions stem from anxiety and fears. The barking and lunging is often your dog’s way of saying, “Please stay away!”. It’s a rehearsed behaviour that’s worked for them in the past: when they barked, the scary thing eventually disappeared - so they keep doing it. These behaviours are to increase space between them and the other dogs.

Snarling dog

Aggression, on the other hand, typically involves an intent to move towards the trigger and potentially cause harm. They are inviting conflict and purposefully using aggressive and threatening body movements and vocalisations.

And it’s not always about other dogs. Reactivity can show up in response to:

• People

• Dogs

• Cars, bikes, skateboards, or other fast-moving objects

A reactive dog is not a bad dog. They’re often overwhelmed, stressed, or scared and they need guidance, not judgment

Have a question about reactivity? Feel free to get in touch

Emma

(BSc, MSc Animal Behaviour & Training)