Pain, Fear, Anxiety, and Stress in our pet dogs are all issues that we must address. But this is only a prerequisite to training. Training is how we actually change a reactive dog’s behavior.
I’ve been seeing a lot of advertising on social media about ways to eliminate reactive behaviors in dogs that don’t involve behavior modification work. They assert that “training will not fix the problem.” Nerve stimulation, physical therapy, and other techniques may almost magically solve the problem of reactive behaviors.
Until there is some scientific evidence, I have to differ. You have to learn and take action if you want to change your dog’s behavior; nothing in life is free.
What is Reactivity?
“Reactivity” is a word coined some years ago, maybe by Dr. Karen Overall. It was meant to describe a broad range of behaviors that dogs show in situations that don’t logically warrant them. Used in its originally intended form, reactivity means that a dog “over-reacts” to a stimulus in some way.
A dog might show obvious fearful behaviors that help him move away from the stimulus. He might over-react by showing aggressive behaviors, ultimately moving toward it to chase it away. It could even mean that the dog is overly excited about wanting to greet and play with another dog. In this case, he would over-react by trying to get closer to the other dog. He might use over-the-top behaviors like leaping and spinning, barking, and more.
Because it can technically mean so many things, it’s hard to determine exactly what someone means when they say their dog is reactive. Most often these days, I see “reactivity” used to describe a dog’s aggressive behaviors toward other dogs or humans, often only when the dog is on leash.
Describe Behavior, Don’t Label Dogs
We could discuss the meanings of the words “reactivity” and “aggression” all day. I find it helpful to remember that we should not be labeling dogs, but describing their behavior. If we take that approach, it’s easy to understand that every dog has the possibility of exhibiting any emotion and every type of behavior. A dog may show an aggressive or fearful behavior that makes total sense in the current situation. This doesn’t mean the dog is “aggressive,” “fearful,” or “reactive.” But, if he learns to use this type of behavior in many situations, routinely choosing it over other possibilities, it is probably a behavior problem.
Every dog has a full range of behavior possibilities. We can use behavior modification to help them learn to be comfortable with things they are currently not comfortable with. Describing the specific behaviors we see helps us make a plan to change them. Labeling a dog might lock us into acceptance of certain behaviors as something that can’t be changed.
How to Describe Behavior
We can say that a dog is showing fearful behaviors like backing away or cowering. A dog could also be using aggressive behaviors, like barking and lunging toward something he perceives as a threat. Both of these types of behavior may stem from a dog’s problem with impulse control. However, shorthand in describing behavior, as in calling both of these types of behavior “reactive,” is not usually helpful.
When I see a dog described as “reactive” these days, it typically means he is using aggressive behaviors to defend himself and/or his territory when there is not a “real” threat. The word “reactive” fits because the dog is over-reacting to the stimulus. There is no threat, but he is reacting as though there is. The perceived threat is usually a human or a dog.
The trouble is, the dog in question has learned somewhere along the way that an approaching dog or human is a threat. He’s responding appropriately, based on his experience of feeling threatened in a particular situation or multiple situations. Although these behaviors are natural, they are enhanced by learning.
Leash Reactivity
The aggressive behaviors a dog uses for defense are usually barking and lunging while facing the stimulus, often moving toward the stimulus. “Leash reactivity” describes this set of behaviors occurring when a dog is on leash. It may seem strange for a dog to behave this way on leash when he likes to play with other dogs off-leash, but it’s quite common. The leash is the part of the environment that triggers the responses.
The stimulus is usually another dog or human entering the exhibiting dog’s range of perception. (When the stimulus is too far away or the individual is somehow less-threatening, the dog doesn’t perceive it as a threat. This distance, or level of intensity, is different for every dog.) Dogs described as “leash reactive” often display reactive behaviors only when on leash, while other dogs show them in a variety of situations.
Aggressive Behaviors
Any dog or human can display aggressive behaviors. One definition of the word “aggressive” is “ready or likely to attack or confront.” For dogs, that means heightened vigilance, body parts forward, growling, barking in a forward manner, moving or lunging toward the stimulus. For humans, it might mean yelling or shaking a finger or fist at the stimulus.
When I first started training, over 30 years ago, we used the word “aggressive” for this set of behaviors. I think that word scared people and the term “reactive” came into fashion to allow them to set aside the fear that their dogs had become irretrievably dangerous. If we are labeling a dog “aggressive” because he showed an aggressive behavior, this seems to make sense. But we don’t usually label a dog “happy” if he playfully pranced around just one time and was despondent every other time we saw him.
Is Reactive a Better Word?
Using the word “reactive” might allow people to set aside the emotions that are raised by considering their own well-loved dog as “aggressive.” It may help people to objectively analyze what is going on with their dogs. But it doesn’t give us all the information we need. Labeling the dog as reactive may also subject him to a limited life.
Over-protection Shouldn’t Take the Place of Training
When dogs are simply labeled as “reactive,” their caring owners build all sorts of walls around them to protect them from ever being exposed to the things that upset them. While this is certainly necessary as an accompaniment to training, it should not be a lifestyle.
Don’t Limit Dogs
I see too many dogs in rescue groups who are only offered for adoption to homes where they will be the only dog. This limitation does not encourage adopters to help the dog learn to develop his natural, social behaviors with others of his own kind. In addition, preventing exposure to other dogs in this way usually fails, because adopters will eventually expose the dog to dogs belonging to friends or relatives or meet other dogs while out walking. Some may even decide to adopt another dog later, forgetting about or ignoring the problem. I’ve seen all of this happen. Labeling can mask a problem.
Help Dogs Learn Beneficial Behaviors
The outcome will be much better if we describe the problem behavior and make a plan to help the dog overcome it. In fact, a dog such as this might have simply been stressed from the concurrent triggers typical of transferring into a new home or foster home. He might actually enjoy being around other dogs and didn’t have a chance to practice social behaviors when he wasn’t already stressed. This is an example of why rescues and foster homes might need more training to reduce dog stress in ways that really work. Contact me for information on a training program I use to help shelters and rescue groups.
Training New Behaviors for Reactive Dogs
If dogs don’t learn to cope with typical stimuli, the resulting stress can grow and generalize to other stimuli. An owner who keeps a dog away from all dogs forever may find themselves needing to keep the dog away from children, and perhaps later, all humans.
When we describe the exact problematic behaviors a dog is showing, we begin to describe what he needs to learn to do instead. This sets us up to create a training plan, one that is humane and teaches constructively. The plan should use positive reinforcement to build feelings of comfort and confidence alongside outward, operant behaviors that work for dog and owner.
Protection from Exposure is Part of Training
While learning a new set of behaviors, a dog should certainly be protected from exposure to stimuli he can’t yet handle. But training should soon include those stimuli, presented at a controlled level, perhaps at a distance or at a lower intensity. Learning to do this makes you a better trainer for your dog.
Quality of life includes the possibility of a dog developing resilience and feeling comfortable in the situations he will typically be exposed to throughout his time with us. We can use behavior modification to help a dog grow. Behavior modification encompasses both the emotional aspect and the outward aspect of the actions the dog chooses, a.k.a., operant behavior.
Reactivity is a Behavior Problem
No matter what we choose to call it, we must recognize that the behaviors a dog displays in certain environmental contexts are behavior problems for the dogs, as well as their owners. Dogs who bark and lunge at people and other dogs are not being set up well for successful lives in the human-centered world in which they live.
Pain is Not the Only Cause for Reactivity
On social media these days, there are multitudes of practitioners advertising nervous system adjustments, movement strategies, and increased muscle coordination as solutions to “reactivity.” In addition, in some social media groups, it seems that when any amateur asks how to address reactivity, the first answer is not only a caution to check for pain, but multiple statements that pain is most likely the issue. Where is the scientific data on that?
Maybe it’s just the groups I am exposed to, but it sure seems like training is being discounted. Is teaching dogs what we want them to do falling by the wayside? Is it just too hard? Are people looking for a quick fix?
Dogs Need Our Help When They Have Pain
Dealing with pain is essential. If a dog has physical pain, we need to provide treatment, medication, therapy, or procedures required to eliminate or manage it. There’s no question. As their caretakers, we are tasked with giving them what they need.
Addressing the root cause of physical pain is the ultimate goal. Pain medications may be given for a limited time while the cause is addressed through surgery, physical therapy, or other techniques, until the pain no longer exists.
Some dogs have chronic pain due to congenital issues, injuries, or as side effects from illnesses that they have overcome. Providing long-term pain management is needed in these cases, maybe for a lifetime. Dogs who are experiencing pain are more likely to defend themselves. Managing their pain allows dogs to learn new behaviors more easily. However, not every “reactive” dog has pain, and not every dog experiencing pain shows “reactive” behaviors.
Dogs Need Our Help When They Have FAS
Fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) are expressions of psychological pain. These issues often cause dogs to be more concerned about people or dogs in their vicinity or approaching them. FAS commonly cause dogs to defend themselves more readily. Caretakers must address this, no question.
Some dogs benefit from medication for these issues, but they need complementary behavior modification to get the best results. Actually changing their responses to triggers, or stressful stimuli, requires teaching them new behaviors. Medications can help get them into a mental state that allows the process of behavior modification to function. But again, new behavioral responses are needed.
Training is Required to Live in a Human-Centered World
Our world is set up for humans. We have to teach our dogs how to successfully live their lives in environments they did not choose. Beginning at birth, dogs continually learn what works and what doesn’t, and as their owners or pet parents, there’s a lot we can do to help them become wonderful members of human families. Early socialization and a continuing system of conditioning them in positive ways are essential for a low-stress life.
Reactive Behaviors May Begin Through Pain or FAS
Maybe pain is the culprit that instigated the set of behaviors that rolls off every time your dog sees another dog. But don’t kid yourself – your dog has learned to perform this set of behaviors really well. Dealing with the pain is necessary, but it’s only the beginning. The behaviors involved in your dog’s reactive response are not likely to simply turn around as a result of pain management.
Addressing Pain and FAS Gives You a Starting Point
Solve the causative problem. Address your dog’s pain, help him learn a new way to move if he has structural challenges, and help him be more confident. But even when the pain is gone, the behaviors remain in the dog’s repertoire.
What is Behavior Modification?
Behavior modification means training the dog to do something different. Training is merely “teaching.” Teaching is guiding or directing what your dog learns to do. Teaching him to move in a different way is training. Teaching him to show more confident body language is training, and can stimulate him to actually feel more confident.
Your dog is learning all the time, whether you are teaching or not. Training is inserting yourself into the learning process so you create a possibility that your dog learns behaviors that benefit him as well as yourself.
Giving a dog a behavioral system to rely on, a routine that results in getting treats and opportunities to do things he likes, is training. Positive reinforcement training has been shown to provide enrichment. Animals have been shown to choose to participate in well-structured positive reinforcement training sessions.
How Reactive Behaviors Can Begin
Your dog is learning all the time. It’s likely he learned his “reactivity” responses on his own, because it made sense to him and no one taught him anything different.
Analysis of Events
When I read questions on some forums, and when I receive questions from some prospective students, I often see the basis of their dogs’ reactivity behaviors in their description of the problems. For instance, “My dog used to be friendly and curious on walks. She was attacked by loose dogs not once, but twice. Now she is reactive on leash toward other dogs.” Do you see it?
Defensive Response
Dogs learn behaviors through functionality. A happy-go-lucky dog goes on a walk with her human mom and is attacked by a loose dog. Whoa! Is she likely to be happy-go-lucky the next time she sees a dog approaching? Maybe, especially if the dog looks completely different and approaches using very different body language. But maybe not. If the previous experience was scary enough, she’s going to defend herself. And if she is attacked a second time, it would only make sense that she would be much more wary of any approaching dog.
Pain, fear, anxiety, and stress contribute to the large group of stimuli influencing your dog’s reaction to a loose dog that attacks her. Her previous learning also contributes, and this event will result in a learning experience just like previous events did.
What Defines “Scary Enough?”
Internal stimuli and external stimuli combine to motivate a dog to defend herself. This is very complex and the reason for such a wide range of possible responses from a dog.
How she was feeling at the moment of the attack:
- Was she hungry, in pain, perhaps having some muscle soreness from exercise?
- Was she itchy from allergies or maybe dealing with a bit of stomach upset?
Her training background:
- Did her human mom use positive reinforcement to teach her?
- Has she learned to watch out because Mom is not predictable?
- Was she taught to check in with Mom when unsure of how to proceed?
Current mood:
- Was she calm on the walk or hyper-stimulated by things in the environment?
Suffice to say that it’s challenging for owners to be aware of everything that is going on from their dog’s point of view, but it’s important to meet that challenge with observation skills and planning.
“Scary enough to cause a dog to be defensive” means that the other dog threatened their feelings of safety and security. This scenario is defined by the dog, based on the types of internal and external stimuli discussed above. Whether or not the other dog meant to threaten your dog, your dog perceives the situation based on all these factors and more. It doesn’t have to make sense to you; your dog’s response makes sense to her.
Survival is a Biological Drive
When your dog’s feelings of safety and security are threatened, she will defend herself. It’s biological. We all do it. Continuing to live, maintain health, and have a chance to reproduce are basic biological drives for all organisms.
Pain and FAS Influence Safety and Security
If your dog is in pain, whether it’s physical or psychological pain, she is more vulnerable and closer to the threshold at which she will perceive any intrusion as a threat and defend herself. It is also true that stress causes further stress. The body learns to respond more and more quickly to threatening stimuli and the result is a tighter coil of stress over time if we don’t help the individual learn to cope better. That’s a whole lesson in neuroscience though, for another time.
I have seen dogs with back injuries become more and more sensitive to being approached from the rear. They became more vigilant, looked over their shoulders more often, and also became more anxious over time. These behaviors became more deeply ingrained and required training to build confidence, accompanied by their owners protecting them from being approached in ways that upset them. The problem continued to get better as long as the owners continued working the training plan.
A dog is who he is and his experiences are part of that. He learns constantly, with his pain, FAS, and all his previous experiences continually influencing what he learns.
“Reactivity” is a Behavior Problem
Once the pain and FAS are addressed, we still have a dog who needs training to develop a better behavioral repertoire. Fun training games can help build the behaviors you want. Teaching him better ways to get what he wants can provide him with feelings of safety and security. Good training always builds great partnerships between trainer and learner, which is one of the reasons people give for wanting dogs in their lives. As the dog’s life continues, training can provide achievable challenges as well as revelations that make learning easier.
Learning Continues Throughout Life
A dog’s behavior will be influenced by pain and structural changes as he ages, and that’s why training should be considered to be a part of his life at all stages. After all, we humans learn new things throughout our lives, so it’s easy to imagine that dogs do, too.
You come to know your dog really well through strengthening the relationship, but don’t become complacent. Your dog keeps learning through all life stages. Don’t forget to help him maintain the ability to make the behavioral choices that benefit both of you.
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