Growling and barking and lunging; oh my! Leash reactivity in dogs.
Leash reactivity is something I am closely familiar with. Not only do I live with a reactive dog, but I am a certified dog trainer who specializes in working with dogs who are fearful, aggressive, or (you guessed it), reactive.
Despite the growing number of reactive dogs, I find that many folks are uncertain about what reactivity even is. Before we can talk about how to address our dog’s reactive behavior we need to understand what reactivity is all about.
What does “reactive” mean?
According the the Merriam Webster Dictionary, reactive means “readily responsive to stimulus, occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset.” Reactivity is simply the “state of being reactive.”
Personally, I find the label “reactive” to be a misnomer. All living beings are reactive to their environment and stimuli in it.
We react so that we can analyze and be aware of potential dangers, and keep ourselves out of harms way.
If I were to orient towards an oncoming vehicle while walking on the sidewalk, would you find this response alarming? Likely not. Nor would you point at me and go “look at that human. She is super reactive!”
If, in the same situation I responded to the sound of the vehicle by shrieking and throwing myself into the ditch, then yes, you might reconsider your assessment and deem my response “over the top.”
When we’re talking about ‘reactive dogs,’ it would be far more appropriate to call these dogs “over-reactive,” as that better describes what we are observing; dogs who are reacting in a way that is “over the top” given the stimulus, situation, or context. For simplicities sake, however, I will continue to use the term “reactive” when I am describing a dog who is over-reacting in a given situation.
What does reactivity look like?
Dog reactivity can look like barking, growling, whining, lunging, snarling, snapping, and even biting. No two reactive dogs will respond to a trigger (a stimuli that elicits a reactive response) the same way, and some reactions may seem to happen “out of nowhere” with no warning signs.
Usually there are subtle changes in your dog’s body language that might indicate they are starting to feel stressed or uncomfortable, but these signals can be difficult to see, and even harder to interpret if you’re not well-versed in dog body language. Body language changes can be a simple as closing of the mouth, perking their ears, raising their tail up (even more confusing, this tail might start/continue to wag!) or stopping walking.
Learning how to read dog body language is something I would recommend to every dog guardian, or person who spends any amount of time around dogs. Learning your own dog’s body language, and their specific “tells” will make it a lot easier to notice when your dog is becoming stressed, prior to it resulting in a big, noisy, blow-up.
For resources to get you started on your body language discovery check out “Doggie Language” by Lili Chin or my webinar How to “Speak Dog” & Navigate Dog Play.
Why might a dog be reactive?
A dog might react as a result of a variety of reasons, including:
Excitement: the dog wants to approach or interact with the stimulus and are unable to contain their excitement about it! A dog who is reacting because they are excited can look very similar to one who is aggressive.
Frustration: the dog wants to approach/get to the stimulus but can’t! This usually happens when there is a barrier between them, such as a fence or the leash. The barrier prevents the dog from moving or behaving freely, which can be frustrating for them.
Fear: the dog is afraid of the stimulus and wants to increase distance from it. If your dog is outwardly reacting towards a trigger, they are likely trying to get the stimulus to move away from them (thus increasing the space between them.) Fearful dogs might also do the opposite, and gain distance by fleeing or avoiding the trigger.
Aggression: the dog is unhappy about the stimulus, does not want to be bothered by it, and wants more space! This dog is likely displaying distance increasing behaviors such as a forward stance, barking, lunging, growling, and is working to get that trigger to move away from them.
Conflict: these dogs are feeling more than one emotion. Perhaps they are excited about the trigger, but are simultaneously nervous about it (maybe this trigger is a dog who is bigger than them, or they haven’t met many new dogs before, resulting in uncertainty.) A conflicted dog may display body language that is difficult to interpret, as they are generally telling us two different stories at once.
Are reactive dogs aggressive?
…reactivity and aggression are not labels that are synonymous with one another.
A common misconception is that a dog who is reacting is doing so because they are aggressive or angry. While this can sometimes be the case, “reactivity” and “aggression” are not labels that are synonymous with one another. Reactivity can look aggressive, even when it is not. A dog might bark, lunge, growl, or snap if they are angry, excited, frustrated, OR fearful. Which is why, when looking at the dog’s body language, we need to zoom out and look at the big picture. What is their tail doing? Is it high and stiff, or low and tucked? Are they leaning their weight forwards or backwards? What position are their ears in? All of these questions can give us more information about what is going on under the surface.
A dog who is showing their teeth is not always the big bad wolf. Try to look beyond the teeth to the rest of the dog to get a better idea of what they’re communicating with you.
What might a dog be reactive towards?
Common stimuli that dogs might be reactive towards are: dogs, people, vehicles/things with wheels, other animals (cats, birds, wildlife, livestock, etc.), and sounds.
Top tips for reactivity
If you think your dog is reactive here are some of my top suggestions for you:
Avoid situations where your dog might encounter their trigger/react. This might mean walking in a different location (where there are less triggers), walking at a different time of day (when less triggers are out and about), crossing the street to put space between your dog and their trigger, or turning around to avoid triggers.
Avoid correcting or punishing your dog for reactive behavior. While corrections can work to interrupt or stop unwanted behaviors, they do not teach the dog what to do differently in this situation, nor do they address the underlying emotions and cause of your dog’s reactive behavior. For more information on punishment in training, check this out.
If your dog is displaying sudden behavioral changes, a trip to their veterinarian for a health exam is recommended to rule out pain or health issues as a contributing factor.
Seek help from a certified, professional dog trainer who has experience with reactive dogs. Reactivity is not a problem that will “go away” on it’s own (gosh, I wish it would). A trainer can help you determine the underlying cause of your dog’s reactivity, and provide you with the tools and training to manage and modify your dog’s behavior. If you are unsure who to turn to for help, please reach out for assistance.
Reactivity can be complex, confusing, frightening, and embarrassing, but you do not have to navigate it alone! There is hope for your dog to learn how to successfully navigate their triggers, resulting in peaceful and enjoyable walks in the future for you both!
Stay awesome,
Vanessa
P.S. - Is your dog is starting to show signs of reactivity, and you aren’t sure what to do next?
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P.P.S Are you ready to work on your dog’s reactivity today? My comprehensive online training program “Reactivity Reclaimed” is launching next week. Get your name on the list to be notified for early access to this course! Limited seats are available, so you won’t want to miss out.
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Vanessa Charbonneau, is the author of Dog Care for Puppies: A guide to Feeding, Playing, Grooming and Behavior. She owns Sit Pretty Behavior & Training, employing force-free training techniques to work with companion dogs and their owners. Charbonneau lives in Prince George, BC with her husband, two daughters, and one dog.