14/07/2023
🐶🚨 Dog-Dog Reactivity: Let’s ditch the stigma, let’s normalise the conversation and then let’s get some real-life results! And most of all - let’s be KIND to EVERYONE.
Have you been victim of dog shaming? You aren’t alone.
Owning a dog that is reactive to other dogs feels lonely and the fact is - it shouldn’t. If you are reading this, you have probably fallen victim at some point to a person (hopefully meaning well) saying “Did you not socialise him” “You need to socialise him”.
. And probably you’ve diligently acted on their advice only to find your dog repeatedly and consistently reacting and getting worse. Ultimately you end up feeling ashamed and, quite frankly, fed up!
We need to NORMALISE the conversation around dogs who are reactive to other dogs and make the world see that the dog who is reacting (and their owner) are the victims too in this situation!
If anything, they are the biggest victims - why? Because the reacting dog is saying “I don’t have the skills to deal with a very normal situation” and conventional dog training advice tells you to repeatedly put them in that situation. The reality - it doesn’t have to be that way.
Imagine how much kinder everyone would be if when they saw a dog barking and lunging at another dog, they heard that dog saying “I don’t have the skills to deal with this very normal situation - please help”
Imagine the different choices people would make if that is what they heard the dog saying.
You only have to dive into a handful of studies, which you can check out our to-the-point summaries of below to see this isn’t strange, new or something to be ashamed of.
What do we need to do about it? Replace putting them in situations repeatedly and getting the same outcome with instead SKILLING them up to prepare FOR that situation.
It’s all possible. Daily, we see transformations of dogs that used to react to 10/10 dogs learn how to have successful interactions guided by their owners, using reward-based, games-based strategies lead by our clinicians remotely wherever they are in the world. Sometimes the biggest thing holding owners back from reaching out though is shame, guilt and a feeling that they should be able to “fix” this themselves as a result of the advice that has been given in the past.
Let’s ditch the stigma, let’s normalise the conversation and then let’s get some real-life results!
Need some more reassurance you aren’t alone? Here’s just some of the science 👇🚀📖
1️⃣ "Prevalence of Aggressive Behaviour in Dogs Rehomed from UK Rescue Shelters" (Casey et al., 2014) This study investigated the prevalence of reactive behaviour in dogs rehomed from rescue shelters. The findings revealed that approximately 36% of rehomed dogs displayed reactivity towards other dogs. 📈😢
2️⃣ "Prevalence and Risk Factors for Behaviour Problems in Dogs under Welfare Guardianship of Animal Welfare Shelters in Brazil" (Mariti et al., 2017) This research conducted in Brazil examined the prevalence of behaviour problems in dogs under the guardianship of animal welfare shelters. The study revealed that approximately 27% of dogs exhibited reactivity towards other dogs.
3️⃣ "Prevalence of Canine Behaviour Problems in Spain" (Fatjó et al., 2007) This study focused on the prevalence of canine behavior problems in Spain. The research indicated that approximately 17% of dogs exhibited reactivity towards other dogs.
4️⃣ "Prevalence of Aggressive Behaviour in Golden Retrievers in Sweden" (Meyer et al., 2014) This study investigated the prevalence of reactivity in Golden Retrievers in Sweden. The findings showed that approximately 15% of Golden Retrievers exhibited reactivity towards other dogs.
5️⃣ "Prevalence of Behaviour Problems Reported by Owners of Dogs Purchased from an Animal Rescue Shelter" (Bartlett et al., 2005) This review article explored the prevalence of behavior problems reported by owners of dogs purchased from an animal rescue shelter. The research indicated that approximately 25% of shelter dogs displayed reactivity towards other dogs.
And that’s just FIVE studies!
💡 Armed with scientific knowledge, we can make a difference! By sharing this post, you're spreading evidence-based awareness about the prevalence of dog-directed dog reactivity, normalising the conversation, removing the stigma and guiding people to the real-life results they deserve. Together, let's empower pet owners, adopters, and society at large to promote kindness in dog owning and training. 💙🌍🐶
