17/06/2026
Reactive dog?
Most of the dogs I work with; maybe as many as three quarters are reactive, and most of those are reactive to other dogs. Every case is different; every dog has a different story to tell, a different life lived, a different personality.
They are all different, but what connects all these dogs is that there is very rarely a straightforward solution. and this is why they come to me. Almost all of those dogs have had some kind of help prior to meeting me. Maybe they've simply tried some tips and ideas from the internet, some have seen trainers in classes, or some have seen behaviourists.
When I meet a dog for the first time, I'm looking for the underlying cause of behaviour, but almost always it has evolved into more than one thing, regardless of how it started. Very rarely can you describe a dog as simply fear-reactive, or frustration-reactive, or excitement-reactive, or aggressive-reactive,
👉If a dog has been reactive for a while, it's likely that their social need has become desperately overdue. So that will be impacting the behaviour they show me on that day.
👉Most people don't respond to the situation in the way our dogs would expect or prefer, so it's also very likely there is some frustration mixed in there too.
👉As to the root cause, even if it wasn't caused by a frightening experience, it is likely that your dogs behaviour has triggered a negative reaction at some point - either from the other dog, the other dogs owner, or perhaps even your own reaction, or the lead/collar you are using. So they'll no doubt be an element of fear present too.
Clues often happen before or after the reactive behaviour fully triggers, so I’m always watching out for that, and sometimes they emerge later when the overriding emotion has settled. Either way, I find a way to find it!
And we haven't even got started on the original event that kicked this all off. That could've been anything, and if your dogs been reactive for a while, it might even be a long forgotten memory for your dog, that has left behind a learned habit that makes the dog feel safe, but they've no idea why anymore.
👉Maybe something happened at a time they felt especially vulnerable, and they over reacted at the time - rescue dogs and teenagers are vulnerable to this. So too are dogs that are sick or in pain.
👉Or, maybe there was a bad experience that haunts them anytime they suspect a dog is nearby.
They are all so different, but no matter what, the solution starts by finding a rewardable moment to build from. That’s not so easy when all these things are triggering your dog at the same time. Things can escalate quickly, and sometimes it’s easier to spot than other times, but I'll find it – I’ve been practising for well over 20 years!
We’ll make the most impact by focusing on the element that's impacting the behaviour the most (fear, frustration, excitement, aggression), so we’ll focus on that the most. But I'll build in some games and techniques that will address the other factors too, so they are ready when we need to include them in the main strategy.
Going at the dogs pace, in this way, helps the dog in the three most important ways: by increasing trust, confidence, and resilience. Unpredictable situations suddenly become predictable. Expectations start to change. Things that once scared them, start to trigger curiosity! And frustration melts away.
Sound good?
There are three ways I can help you with your reactive dog (all 1-1).
👉The best option is with a full support behaviour package. I’ll assess your dog, and coach you through the process in our follow up sessions and via support in-between. You’ll see progress happening, we’ll tweak as we go for best progress, and you’ll get support between sessions when things don’t go to plan!
👉If that’s not an option, you could just have the assessment session, you’ll learn where your dog is at, what he needs from you, the bones of a plan that you can work through on your own.
👉Or you could book a power hour where I’ll get you started with some techniques and tips – for best results you’ll need a few of these, (but there is no commitment) to address all the needs as they change, but it’s a great place to start.
👉Or there's secret option four - a combination of all three!!
For more info, get in touch: https://www.gooddoggie.co.uk/quote/
