Jim Gillies( Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant )

Jim Gillies CDBC is a highly experienced and qualified dog behaviourist in Glasgow. With over a decade of experience working with dogs and their owners, Jim has earned a reputation as a trusted expert in his field. He is dedicated to promoting positive reinforcement and reward-based training techniques, always prioritising the well-being of the dogs he works with.

What is Reactivity in Dogs

Dog reactivity refers to a dog’s tendency to respond with a heightened response to specific stimuli or situations, such as other dogs, people, or certain environments. This prevalent issue in modern society poses a challenge for many dog owners. However, with informed guidance and dedicated training, managing and overcoming this behaviour problem is achievable.

Understanding Reactivity

Dogs are naturally social species, yet some may show signs of distress when interacting with other dogs. This reactive behaviour has complex origins and can be attributed to various factors:

• Underlying Causes: To effectively address reactivity, one must first comprehend its origins. Reactivity may arise from fear, frustration, or over-excitement, leading to unwanted behaviours such as barking, lunging, or growling.
• Past Traumas or Insufficient Socialization: Dogs with limited social interactions or negative experiences may develop ongoing anxiety or fear towards other dogs, impacting even those previously comfortable in social settings.
• Changes in Social Dynamics: Dogs accustomed to frequent and unrestricted socialization may exhibit stress or confusion when their normal social patterns are disrupted.
• Lead-Barrier Reactivity (LBR): The confinement of a leash can cause a feeling of entrapment, leading to reactive or defensive behaviours, particularly when the option to escape is not available.
• The Anticipation of Discomfort: Previous pain or discomfort, whether from injuries or harsh handling, can lead to anticipatory reactive behaviours.
• A Cycle of Fear and Frustration: Limited or negative past experiences can evoke feelings of threat or irritation, especially when leashed, prompting a variety of defensive actions.

Signs of Reactivity

Recognising the early signs of reactivity can make a significant difference in managing and overcoming these behaviours in dogs.

Look out for:

• Aggressive Postures: Displays of defensiveness, such as raised hackles, stiffening, and intense staring, can indicate discomfort and potential reactivity.
• Excessive Barking: Frequent, loud barking at common stimuli, such as doorbells or new visitors, is a clear sign of reactive behaviour.
• Lunging: A dog making sudden movements towards other animals, people, or even vehicles is exhibiting reactive tendencies.
• Hyper Vigilance: Constant alertness and an inability to relax, especially in familiar environments, suggest underlying reactivity.
• Tail Chasing or Spinning: Repeatedly chasing their tail or spinning in place may be a dog’s response to stress or anxiety.
• Snapping or Nipping: Quick snaps or gentle nipping at the air near stimuli can escalate to more reactive behaviour.
• Pacing and Restlessness: Inability to settle down can often be a precursor to reactive actions, indicating the dog is stressed.

Dog Reactivity vs. Aggression

Understanding the difference between reactive and aggressive behaviours in dogs is essential for effective management and training. These behaviours, while occasionally similar in presentation, originate from different motivations and emotional states.

Distinguishing Aggressive Behaviours:

• Root Causes: Aggressive behaviours often stem from fear and a dog’s instinct to distance itself from perceived threats, which can include the protection of resources like a favoured human, toy, or food.
• Pain-Induced Aggression: Similar to humans, dogs may exhibit aggression when in pain.
• Non-Aggressive Actions: Behaviours such as predatory chasing, though potentially aggressive in appearance, are driven by instinctual pursuit rather than a desire to intimidate or harm.

Identifying Reactive Behaviours vs Aggressive Behaviours:

In the complex tapestry of canine behaviour, distinguishing between reactive and aggressive behaviours is crucial for effective intervention. Reactivity is often mistaken for aggression, yet these behaviours stem from different motivations and require distinct approaches in training and management.

Understanding the nuances between a dog’s reactive responses to stimuli—rooted in fear, anxiety, or overexcitement—and true aggression, which is intent-driven and targeted, is the first step towards fostering a harmonious relationship between dogs and their human companions. This exploration aims to unravel these behaviours, offering insight and strategies to identify and address each appropriately.

• Excessive Responses: Reactive behaviours often involve disproportionate reactions to certain triggers, such as overzealous barking, lunging, or alternatively, extreme withdrawal like cowering or hiding.
• Anxiety-Induced Triggers: The root of these behaviours usually stems from anxiety, with common inducements including unfamiliar people, other animals, sudden loud sounds, or physical constraints like leashes and fences.
• Stress Signals: Dogs may exhibit stress through various signals like pacing, whining, and shaking, which can precede or accompany reactive behaviours.
• Behavioural Patterns: Recognising patterns in reactivity can help in identifying specific triggers and the contexts in which they occur, allowing for more effective management strategies.
• Impact of Past Experiences: A dog’s history, including any traumatic events or lack of early socialisation, can significantly influence the development and manifestation of reactive behaviours.

Strategies for Reducing Reactivity Through Socialisation and Training

• Trigger Identification: Keep a log of your dog’s reactive episodes to uncover patterns and triggers, which can be influenced by factors such as visual impairments or increased anxiety at certain times.
• Counterconditioning and Desensitization (CC&DS): This technique involves gradually exposing your dog to their triggers in a controlled manner, paired with positive reinforcement to alter their emotional response.
• Recognising the Signs: Identifying what triggers a dog’s reactive behaviour is a critical step. Understanding these responses is fundamental to setting a course for improvement.

Responding to Reactive Behaviour

• Managing Encounters: If a trigger is present, remove your dog from the situation with a cheerful demeanour and rewards to avoid escalation.
• Environment Control: Creating a secure and predictable environment can reduce the occurrence of reactive behaviours

Behaviour Modification: Addressing Emotional Triggers in Dogs

Comprehending the emotional drivers behind a dog’s behaviour is crucial for successful behaviour modification. An emotional overload can significantly impede the ability to learn and exhibit new behaviours. Our primary goal is to reduce the intensity of these emotions to enhance cognitive processing and learning capacity.

Stress Management and Avoidance:

Initially, it is critical to manage and circumvent situations that may induce stress. Employing effective avoidance tactics allows us to subsequently focus on transforming the dog’s emotional responses through “desensitization and counterconditioning.” A positive shift in emotions paves the way for behavioural changes.

Practical Management Strategies:

It is essential to implement management techniques that minimize exposure to stress triggers during outdoor activities, which can be unpredictable:

• Select alternative walking routes to avoid known stressors.
• Schedule walks during quieter times to dodge peak traffic.
• Proactively change direction to avoid confrontations.
• Utilise distractions to redirect the dog’s focus.
• Use a car to create a safe distance from potential triggers.

While these steps don’t directly alter the dog’s emotions or behaviours, they serve as a crucial foundation by preventing aggravation and promoting emotional stability for the dog and the handler.

Altering Emotional Responses:

The next phase involves managing the dog’s emotional threshold by keeping it below a level that induces stress, thus ensuring a controlled exposure to triggers. This requires careful monitoring of the dog’s reactions and discerning which situations to address and which to avoid. Introducing a positive stimulus, often in the form of treats, can help foster a more relaxed response.

The aim is to build a new, positive association with the trigger through “counterconditioning.” This method seeks to establish a new emotional response: seeing a trigger leads to receiving treats, resulting in positive feelings.

Engage/Disengage Training:

Initially, avoidance may be the safest route. As the dog’s emotional state begins to stabilize, opportunities will arise to strengthen the new association of TRIGGER = TREAT = POSITIVE EMOTION. With increasing calmness and attentiveness, we can gradually train the dog to disengage from triggers and engage more with their handler. The “engage/disengage” technique is integral to this process, enhancing the dog’s interaction with their handler and making it more rewarding.

Seeking Professional Guidance

For a thorough approach to managing reactivity, engaging with a certified dog behaviourist or trainer is recommended. They can offer specialised support and create a customized plan for your dog, incorporating CC&DS techniques and ensuring that positive reinforcement is a cornerstone of the training process.

Understanding Your Dog’s Progress Post-Training

It’s essential to monitor and recognize the advancements your dog makes after training. Acknowledging even the smallest successes can greatly enhance the training atmosphere and encourage consistent progress.

Measuring Progress:

• Objective Tools: Apply objective methods to track your dog’s development, offering clear insights into the training’s impact and identifying areas needing further attention.
• Structured Management: Utilize these measurements to maintain a systematic approach to your dog’s reactivity management.

Celebrating Milestones:

• Positive Reinforcement: Acknowledging your dog’s achievements in overcoming reactivity serves as positive reinforcement, which not only rewards the dog but also encourages both dog and owner to persist on this path.

Maintaining a Reactive-Free Lifestyle:

• Ongoing Commitment: Recognise that managing reactivity is not a one-time effort but an ongoing commitment to integrate the training into the dog’s everyday life.
• Professional Support: Don’t hesitate to seek professional advice if challenges arise, ensuring that you have expert guidance when necessary.
• Continual Education: Stay informed about dog behaviour to further support your dog’s journey to a reactive-free lifestyle.

Everyday Practices for Management:

• Structured Activities: Include activities such as routine walks, regular training sessions, and consistent positive reinforcement in your daily schedule to effectively manage reactivity and encourage a stable, balanced lifestyle for your dog.