Dogs that are reactive overreact to certain stimuli or situations. Genetics, lack of socialization, insufficient training to learn self-control, a frightening experience, or a combination of these can cause reactivity, and fear is typically the driving force.
A reactive dog is usually a fearful dog. Causes can be genetic, but they are more likely due to a lack of socialization, prior bad experiences or a lack of training. Aggressive dogs show similar signs but are determined to cause harm and destruction.
Reactive behaviors usually crop up in adolescence around 6 to 18 months of age and tend to get worse as the dog reaches social maturity around 2 or 3 years of age. Your pup will not “grow out of” this behavior.
The Bottom Line. Sadly, they do not. The only way to counter reactivity is through consistent and positive training. You should never punish a dog for reactivity or it will only become worse.
"Many times reactive dogs can [improve] with very consistent training and work," Hoover says. "However, when a fear-based behavior becomes ingrained in a dog, it may never entirely go away.
In most cases, the best way to get a reactive dog ready for socializing is to slowly expose them to their triggers in a controlled environment and reward them with natural dog treats until they no longer react so strongly.
Do not punish. Punishment won't help and, in fact, will make the problem worse. If the reactivity is motivated by fear, punishment will make your dog more fearful, and could lead to aggression.
If your dog demands your attention by barking or jumps up on you, you might have seen the training advice to ignore these unwanted behaviors. This is well-intended but incomplete advice – if you only ignore the behavior, your dog will probably never learn to stop barking, jumping, or pulling.
This kind of work can take anywhere from two to 12 months, as that's how long it takes for a dog to learn a new behavior. After that time period, you should be able to substitute negative reactions with positive thoughts.
What Causes Leash Reactivity? Dogs who miss the opportunity to explore the world, meet new people and animals, and have a variety of positive experiences during puppyhood might be more likely to exhibit leash reactivity. This is because they're unsure of how to process new situations.
Reactive dogs have certain triggers, such as men with beards or hats, small children, or situations when the dog feels trapped on a leash. If a reactive dog approaches you, the best thing you can do is give him space. Do not approach in an attempt to greet him.
Of course, it is not your dog's fault. They are acting in response to an emotion – that might be fear, anxiety or frustration – and, when they react, that can make them feel better in the moment so they keep doing it. But we can teach them a better way to respond that also feels good.
Excitement. Reactive dogs are often motivated out of excitement (high-arousal), which can lead to frustration. Many times humans have unintentionally created this behavior because dogs were never taught how to be appropriately social around other dogs in an appropriate manner.
To build your dog's confidence in a more general way, provide them with enrichment activities and relationship-based training. Simply feeding your dog via food puzzles and getting them involved in nose work (which, by the way, is fun for both dogs and their people) can make them more confident.
A few minutes into the walk, have your guest toss your dog some treats, with no eye contact or other gestures. If your dog appears relaxed, the guest can ask for some basic commands, to sit or lay down, with a tossed treat reward for complying.
That means that thousands of pet parents are likely struggling with similar behavioral issues. And in fact, even purebred dogs raised from birth can become reactive - they may just be born with a chemical imbalance. Many times, these stories end in heartbreak. Luckily, they don't have to.
Any breed can be reactive, but it's especially common in the herding types, like border collies and cattle dogs. These dogs were bred for laser focus and the ability to instantly react to changes in their environment.
You can walk your leash-reactive dog safely around your neighborhood, but she will need dedicated training and management.
There are two main reasons why dogs display leash reactivity: fear or frustration. A fearful dog wants to get away from the thing she's afraid of, so she displays distance-increasing body language, such as snarling and growling. It's her way of saying, “Hey, you! You make me uncomfortable!
Dogs will only display their true feelings with people and at places where they feel safe. So when a friend takes your leash, or the vet, or anyone else, and your dog doesn't react it is not because they behave better with someone else. It is because they do not feel safe with that person. They feel safer with you!
When to walk. After work seems to be a popular time for dog guardians to get outside with their pooch, which makes it a nightmare for our reactive dogs. Walking early in the morning or later at night usually yields fewer people and stimuli to encounter on your walks.
Reactivity is very common: Our own research shows that 75% of dog owners say they have a dog that shows some signs of reactivity.