What is reactivity in dogs?

Reactivity isn't a diagnosis or a personality type. It's simply a way of describing a dog that responds in a certain way to certain triggers or stressors. For one dog, that trigger may be other dogs. For another, it could be people, bikes, runners, traffic or particular noises or movements. There are many possible reasons a dog may show reactive behaviour.

 

 

What does reactivity look like?

Every dog is different, but reactive behaviour may include:

• Barking.

• Lunging or rearing up.

• Growling.

• Pulling towards or away from something.

• Spinning around on the lead.

• Snapping or biting towards the trigger.

• Snapping or biting towards the nearest target (redirected aggression).

• Freezing or refusing to move.

• Becoming hyper-focused (fixated) on a trigger.

 

 

Why is my dog reacting?

Different dogs can show very similar behaviours for very different reasons. Common emotional drivers include:

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1. Fear

• Many reactive dogs are trying to create distance from, or control the movement of, something they find worrying.

• Barking, lunging or biting may look confident, but they are often signs that a dog feels unsafe and wants to avoid or manage a worrying situation.

 

2. Frustration

• Some dogs desperately want to access people, dogs or other animals but are prevented from doing so by the lead or other barriers.

• Similarly, some dogs struggle when an interaction with a person, dog or other animal does not play out as they had hoped. For instance, another dog may walk off before they finished greeting them, or may not want to play chase with them.

• These unmet expectations cause frustration, which can result in reactive responses such as barking, lunging or growling.

 

3. Previous experiences

• Some dogs develop reactivity as a defensive strategy due to history of negative previous encounters with a person, dog or other trigger.

• They may use reactivity to drive the trigger away before the expected traumatic event can recur.

 

4. Pain or discomfort

• Physical discomfort may reduce a dog's ability to cope, making them more likely to react in situations they previously managed well.

• Dogs can also become reactive as a defensive strategy to avoid a situation that may worsen their discomfort. For instance, a dog in pain may become reactive towards other dogs or people to avoid any physical contact that could worsen their pain.

• Dogs who are uncomfortable for other reasons, for instance in desperate need of the toilet, very hot, or itchy, may also show increased propensity for reactivity.

 

5. Hormones and developmental periods

• Hormones can have an influence on reactivity in dogs, particularly during puberty.

• During puberty, dogs may become more interested in social interactions, which can influence frustration-related reactivity when they are unable to greet or play.

• Hormones can also cause increased conflict between dogs, particularly in the case of adolescent males.

• Adolescent dogs are also generally more prone to reactive behaviour because they have a lower tolerance of stress and frustration and tend to be more impulsive.

 

6. General stress

• Anything that increases a dog’s general stress levels will increase their propensity for reactive behaviour.

• This is why stress reduction is so important for reactive dogs.

 

 

Why does my dog react some days but not others?

Your dog may ignore another dog one day, then bark and lunge at the next one they see. This is very common. Just like we don’t react to a stressful event the same way every time, neither do our dogs. Factors such as accumulative stressors (‘trigger stacking’), excessive excitement or frustration, poor sleep, pain or discomfort and overstimulation can all influence how well a dog is able to cope.

 

 

Can reactive dogs improve?

Yes. Many dogs make excellent progress through behaviour modification. This often includes:

• Identifying the emotional drivers.

• Managing situations to prevent rehearsal of the behaviour and exposure to stress.

• Building positive emotional associations over time.

• Teaching alternative behaviours and coping strategies.

• Changing your dog’s expectations when encountering triggers.

• Supporting your dog's overall emotional wellbeing.

 

 

How I can help

As a CCAB-accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist, I work to understand the reasons behind your dog's behaviour before developing an individualised behaviour modification plan. By addressing the underlying emotions, we can work towards calmer, more enjoyable walks for both you and your dog.