When it comes to pet care, every dog is unique and requires a slightly different approach. At Grand and Graham Pets, we specialize in providing private, in-home pet sitting in San Francisco with a particular focus on dogs with behavioral or dog-reactivity issues and those with special needs. In this post, we will give you a deep dive into what reactivity is, important considerations if you have a reactive dog, and how to best help them. Whether you recently adopted a dog that is reactive, or you’re looking to learn more about the next steps for helping your dog, this blog post is a great starting place.

What Does It Mean for a Dog to Be Reactive?

A dog that is reactive is one that overreacts to specific triggers in their environment. This can be other dogs, strangers, or specific situations. This reactivity can look like barking, lunging, growling, whining, stalling or retreating when they’re faced with these triggers. Unlike aggression, reactivity is typically fear-based, stemming from anxiety, insecurity, or a lack of socialization.

How Do Dogs Become Reactive?

There are many reasons a dog can become reactive. It may stem from past trauma, either repetitive or single events, a lack of socialization when growing up, poor training/boundaries, and/or genetic predisposition. Sometimes reactivity is the result of a really negative experience with another dog or a human which can cause them to react defensively when faced with similar situations in the future.

Human Reactivity vs. Dog Reactivity

It’s important to make note of the difference between dogs who are reactive towards other dogs and dogs who are reactive towards humans. At Grand and Graham Pets, our expertise lies in caring for dog-reactive dogs, not those who are reactive towards humans. This allows us to provide excellent care for dogs with specific needs while maintaining the safety and comfort of both our sitters and your pets.

Reactive Dogs vs. Aggressive Dogs - What’s the Difference?

While reactivity and aggression can present in the same way, like lunging or barking, the reason behind the behavior is different. Reactive dogs are typically acting out of fear or overstimulation, while aggressive dogs threaten to cause harm to another dog or person. It’s important to know that reactivity is often a reaction to a perceived “threat” whereas aggression is more deliberate. Not all reactive dogs are aggressive, but it can turn into aggression if not properly handled. Understanding the difference here can help you identify your dog’s triggers and provide the best next steps for them.

How to Tell if a Dog is Reactive

When trying to identify if your dog is reactive, it’s important to pay close attention to their behavior and body language. Make note of the signs that you notice. These can look like:

Barking or Growling

Reactivity often starts with barking or growling at the trigger and can escalate from there if not properly handled. Common examples are barking at the door or when someone walks by the house. We often hear “oh, they’re just excited!” however the action, whether positive or negative, is still reactive and therefore unwanted.

Lunging or Pulling on the Leash

Your dog may lunge or strongly pull on the leash to get near or farther away from the trigger, showing their high level of stress or excitement. Leash pulling, another common behavior, is widely considered harmless. Why it’s important to get it under control is although the behavior itself is mostly inconvenient, it means that your dog is not listening or responding to the handler, and is responding to its own needs and not taking instruction. In situations where you need to protect or redirect your dog, this can be extremely dangerous to both you and your dog.

Pacing or Whining

Some dogs show anxiety by pacing back and forth or whining a lot when exposed to their triggers.

Stiff Body Posture

If your dog’s body is stiff and tensed up, this can signal they are on high alert and may react if still exposed to their trigger. Their hackles may also go up, which is a clear indicator that your dog doe not feel safe and is on high alert.

Avoidance Behavior

On the other hand, some dogs show avoidant behavior when faced with their triggers. This can look like fleeing or hiding when they encounter them.

Being Attentive to Body Language

Monitoring and understanding your dog’s body language is such an important step in identifying if they are reactive or not, and in what way. Look for signs like a tucked tail, ears pinned back, raised hair on their back, holding their head low, licking their lips or nose, or turning away. These subtle signs can help you identify when they are uncomfortable and prevent a reactive outburst before it happens. It is important to research dog body language as there are signs that are often misunderstood. For example, dogs also raise their leg while lying down to ask for space, while this is a movement often associated with wanting belly rubs. Misunderstandings could result in reactive behavior.

Triggers for Reactive Dogs

What are Triggers and Why are They Important to Identify?

Triggers are the specific things or situations that cause a dog to react. Recognizing these triggers is the first step in managing them and helping the reactive dog. Some common triggers include other dogs, people, bicycles, loud noises, entering/exiting the home, driving in cars, or cats.

How to Identify Your Dog’s Triggers

When you’re looking to figure out your dog’s specific triggers, it’s important to observe them in various scenarios. Use the FAS scoring system as a reference - the goal is little to no reaction. If there is a reaction, it is one of positive curiosity. If you begin to notice the behavior or body language cues we discussed above, make note of them. It can be helpful to keep a log of the reactions you notice and what causes them so you can begin to recognize patterns and specific triggers. Maybe it’s a car passing, someone on a bike, or another dog approaching. Does your dog start pulling, barking, or lunging? Are they walking a little faster and licking their lips or have whale eye? Once you have the awareness when you’re with your dog, it can be easier to recognize these signs.

Common Triggers and What to Look For

Other Dogs

If your dog has a strong reaction to other dogs being near, that could be a trigger for them. In these situations, they can exhibit strong behavior whether it be lunging and growling or trying to flee. Keep an eye on your dog if another is approaching from far away. What is their body language? Are they tensed up with their ears pinned back? Is the hair on their back raised? Noticing these signs early can be a huge help in establishing a plan so that the situation doesn't escalate.

Strangers

Some dogs can have a negative response to unfamiliar people. This reaction could be the result of past traumatic experiences or just a lack of socialization throughout their life. Common signs to look out for are barking, growling, hiding, or trying to avoid the person. To keep an early eye on things you can look out for subtle cues like lip licking and tail tucking as we discussed earlier.

Loud Noises

Many dogs are reactive to loud noises as they can be startling and unpredictable. Loud noises can cause reactive dogs to tremble, hide, and whine excessively. You may see this occur heavily on holidays like the Fourth of July or New Year’s when fireworks are happening. If your dog starts drooling a lot, pacing around the house, and whining, these are big signs that the loud noises are a significant trigger for them.

Fast Moving Objects

Bikes, cars, skateboards, and other fast-moving objects can also be triggers for some reactive dogs. This can be related to fear, their prey drive, or just a desire to chase. If your dog focuses on moving objects often, and barks or lunges at them, these are key signs that moving objects are a trigger.

Specific Environments or Situations

Sometimes it may not be one specific thing that your dog has reactivity towards but rather a combination of multiple different things in their environment. For example, taking them to the vet or a dog park. In these situations, there can be a lot going on which can be overstimulating for a dog who is reactive. Again, keep an eye on their body language and remove them from the situation, if possible, once you notice early signs of distress.

How to Help Your Reactive Dog

Steps to Take to Better the Situation

1. Management

A good first step in helping your reactive dogs is learning how to manage them and the situation if you face a trigger while out and about. Controlling their environment the best you can to avoid their triggers will help create a calmer experience for both of you. This could mean walking them during quieter times of the day or avoiding areas in the neighborhood where they may encounter too many other dogs.

2. Training

The next step once you have a handle on managing your reactive dog is positive reinforcement training. We recommend consulting a professional trainer when beginning this process to ensure you are handling the training safely and correctly. Positive reinforcement training can help create positive associations between your dog and their triggers as you reward calm behavior with treats or praise when faced with a trigger.

3. Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning

These techniques are used to gradually expose a dog to their trigger at a level that they can tolerate without reacting, and then reward them for that calm behavior. This can help reduce the intensity of their reactivity over time, but you should always consult a trained, experienced professional when implementing these methods.

Can You Desensitize a Dog to a Trigger?

Yes, it’s possible to desensitize a dog to a trigger but it requires a lot of patience and consistency. The methods above are effective for helping them to become less reactive, but it’s super important to take it slowly and make sure your dog feels safe and comfortable as you work through the process.

Working Through the Triggers: When and How?

While helping your dog through their reactivity issues can be a great thing, it is wise to work with a professional trainer who is experienced in working with reactive dogs, especially if your situation is extreme. The goal is to help your dog build up their confidence and realize that their triggers aren’t as scary or threatening as they may seem.

What You Can Expect and Prepare For

During the process of managing and training your reactive dog, know that progress isn’t always linear. There will likely be setbacks and progress can be slow, especially at first. Consistency is the most important thing and remember to celebrate every achievement, big or small! It’s also important to be realistic with your expectations as not all reactive dogs can become fully social, but overall they can learn to manage situations better.

Other Important Considerations for Reactive Dogs and Owners

Handling Walks

When you’re on a walk with your reactive dog, awareness of your surroundings is so important. Try to choose quieter or less busy streets and look into using a harness to give yourself more control over them. It’s always a good idea to bring treats too, in case you want to reward positive behavior or if you need a distraction in the face of a trigger. If you feel you need more than just a hardness, try a hands-free leash with multiple handles for quick grabs and more control.

Safety Considerations

Safety is top priority for you, your pet, and those around you. This is why we recommend taking new things really slowly and being aware of your surroundings at all times. Sometimes triggers are unavoidable but being alert can help you identify a potentially stressful situation and stop it before it happens. Sometimes muzzles can be a helpful tool to ensure safety in situations where triggers are unavoidable. Don’t be afraid to talk this through with those who care for your dog like your vet or a behavioral specialist.

Pet Sitting Considerations

When you have a reactive dog, many care options are off the table, but it is essential to find a care option that will work for both of you in the event you need to leave town or take a trip without them. At Grand and Graham Pets, our experienced team of San Francisco-based dog sitters is skilled in handling dogs with dog-reactivity issues and special needs. We provide personalized, in-home, private pet sitting in the San Francisco area catered to the unique needs of each dog and family. For dogs with dog-reactivity issues, there are so many benefits to professional in-home pet sitting. We want you to feel confident and comfortable that your dog is in good hands when you are away from home.

Dog Reactivity FAQ

Can a reactive dog be cured?

The goal through consistent management and training is to reduce the intensity and frequency of reactivity and improve overall behavior, but you may not be able to “cure” it entirely.

Should you punish a dog for being reactive?

No, punishing the dog can intensify the situation, causing more stress and anxiety for them overall which is the last thing they need when working through reactivity. Positive reinforcement is the most effective approach.

Is it my fault my dog is reactive?

Not necessarily, however, it is your responsibility to care for and address triggers proactively to prevent behavior from escalating to aggressive. Dogs can become reactive for many different reasons and it’s not always within your control, especially if you have adopted a dog with a previous past. The best thing you can do is educate yourself on how to help them.

What dog breed is the most reactive?

Reactivity isn’t based solely on breed, as it can occur in any breed. While some breeds are more prone to it due to their energy levels and temperament, their personality and experiences play a bigger role.

Is it too late to train my reactive dog?

It’s never too late to start working through training, as needed. As dogs age and go through different stages of life they need different types of support from us. It is good to consistently keep an eye on behavioral changes throughout your dog’s life! While older dogs can take longer to adapt, with consistency and patience, it is possible.

Your Next Steps for Supporting Your Dog

Caring for a dog that is reactive is no easy task. It requires a lot of patience, consistency, and understanding. Being able to read their body language, identify their triggers, and work with a professional trainer will go a long way in providing them with the management and support they need. At Grand and Graham Pets in San Francisco, we’re here to take the stress out of finding pet care for your dog-reactive dog. Reach out to us to chat about your specific situation and learn more about our private, in-home pet care services in San Francisco.

How to Best Care for Your Reactive Dog: A Guide for Dog Owners