When a dog reacts excessively, it is often mistaken for aggression, but it is actually related to the dog’s sensitivity to certain triggers or stimulus. More often than not, there are underlying reasons that causes a dog to overreact. Taking the time to understand your dog’s nature will help you employ the necessary techniques to resolve and alleviate the dog’s inappropriate responses.
If you have a reactive dog, it is important to know what particular situations act as a trigger. Some dogs are reactive around men, children, being on a leash, or seeing other dogs or cats. Generally, it is due to the animal not being properly socialized with other animals, they lack familiarity around men or children, or they had a negative interaction, or being on a leash makes them feel trapped.
Fear typically causes a dog’s behavior to be reactive and they become defensive as a protective mechanism. The reactive dog expresses his fear or frustration through vocalization by barking or howling, or lunging, restlessness, hypervigilance, and even charging. If this behavior has occurred for a long period, it will instill a programmed negative response. Addressing the dog’s over arousal when you first start noticing it, will help treat the reactivity as a habitual response.
It may present some challenges dealing with a reactive dog, but putting in the effort to reduce stressful situations will pay off, making life easier for both you and your canine friend. Be observant and list the things that cause undesirable reactions. Where possible, prevent access to these triggers either through visual barriers or using training tools to manage it, or remove the dog from the potentially upsetting environment.
For example, making small, immediate changes could include closing the curtains if the dog gets triggered by seeing specific things outside. This is particularly useful when the dog is alone at home. However, always keeping your curtains closed while you’re at home is probably not practical as a long-term solution but you can make some indoor adjustments to reduce visual access. In this case, you can also start creating a positive association with visible stimulus and use treats to distract the dog after it has noticed the trigger.
It is also worth noting that another key element at play, is your behavior and reaction. It is important to promote a sense of calm without shouting or displaying anxiousness that will only exacerbate the dog’s feelings instead of toning it down. Constant reassurance and positive support is needed to help your dog feel safe. Remember that a reactive dog is not a dangerous dog. The animal is either scared or frustrated and they may need more exercise, proper training, and structured social integration.
Behavior modification and training techniques are very effective in reprogramming that little switch in your dog’s brain that usually detonates at inappropriate moments. But most of all, it’s your time, love, and attention that is needed to read the situation and help train your dog to be comfortable with the things that make them uncomfortable.
