This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ian Ferdock. Find him on Instagram at @ianferdock. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
I distinctly remember when I got my first dog. I always had a family dog growing up, but having a dog of my very own was a completely different level of excitement. He’s now almost 9 years old and has become my absolute best friend. Having a dog and benefitting from a close relationship with them can be one of the most rewarding experiences. However, all pet owners know it isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. What happens when your canine companion develops reactive behaviors? The truth is reactive dogs can create a lot of stress in a household as they begin to have specific needs that can be complex to address. Every situation is different, and what works for some dogs may not work for others. Nonetheless, let’s explore how to deal with a reactive dog.
When I first acquired my dog Axl, he was only 8 weeks old. Back then he was just a cute sleepy puppy who was very low maintenance as far as puppies go. We never had any issues, and he was super easy to train. I kid you not, he was genuinely a dream. But around the time he turned 1, he started to exhibit reactive behavior despite being well-socialized. When we were out for a walk, he would bark and growl at other dogs. If he was off-leash, his recall began to fail at the first sign of a squirrel. The moment a package was delivered, you would think it was his God-given purpose to break down the door. I had no idea how to confront these growing issues, and over the last 9 years, it has been a long journey to give him the best life possible while also protecting him from being in dangerous situations.
How To Deal With A Reactive Dog
I will be the first to admit I am far from an animal behavior specialist. That said, I can relay my own experiences associated with having a reactive dog. Realistically, if you are contending with a similar situation, it may be in your best interest to consult a professional. However, I do know that it can be quite expensive and that may not be accessible to many individuals.
My advice is to follow a few simple steps to better understand why your dog is behaving in a reactive manner. The first step is identifying the underlying issue to determine what may be causing the reactivity. From there you need to focus on identifying their triggers and learning when to either confront or avoid them. After that, you can determine a routine that meets your dog’s needs as well as your own. Another major component of this process is to have realistic expectations for the future.
Finding The Root Cause
The first step you need to take to address your dog’s reactive behavior is to try and identify the underlying cause. Some of the most common reasons dogs exhibit reactivity are stress, anxiety, fear, and resource guarding. However, it could also be that they have a strong protective instinct or an uncontrollable prey drive. In my experience, the best way to identify what is causing reactivity is to pay close attention to your dog’s behavior.
That will include asking some important questions. Does your dog get aggressive when they are around food? If so, they may be prone to resource guarding. Does your dog display body language associated with stress and anxiety when they are reactive? Then that may be their issue. Do they find it offensive when you get an Amazon package or have friends over? That would indicate that their protective instincts may be a contributing factor. Are they convinced that squirrels and bunnies have banded together to take over the world? Then they may be like Axl and have an uncontrollable prey drive.
I was able to realize that Axl’s biggest issues were his protective instincts and his prey drive. Whenever he does exhibit reactive behavior, it is usually towards other animals. Often when he sees a squirrel, raccoon, fox, deer, or even an animal statue in someone’s yard his reaction can best be described as trying to devour it. I also know that he is incredibly protective. For Axl, the only reasonable explanation for the presence of a USPS truck is that the mailman is trying to kill his family, so he must protect our home.
Identifying Triggers
Once you have a rough idea of the emotional basis underlining your dog’s reactive behavior, it’s time to identify their specific triggers. If their problems appear to be associated with resource guarding, then it would be helpful to know if their reactivity is displayed towards other animals in the household or people. You should also determine if they are food-aggressive around mealtimes or if it also occurs when they’re given a snack. Just like finding the root cause, the best way to get an answer is to observe what situations produce certain responses. If you think your dog may be overly protective, ask yourself if it only happens at home or if your dog is worse when on a leash outside of the home.
Identifying the specific triggers associated with your dog’s reactivity is arguably the most important part of this process. It is essential to protect yourself and them from potentially dangerous situations.
Over time I noticed that Axl was mostly triggered when on a leash. He has been able to have positive interactions with other dogs, but that is largely limited to when he is inside, and no leashes are involved. Furthermore, his other most prominent trigger is when anyone comes near the front door. Once someone is inside, he doesn’t have an issue as long as I am calm and tell him everything is okay.
Avoiding And Confronting Triggers
Now this subtitle may sound a bit contradictory but give me a moment to explain. Every time your dog displays a reactive behavior, that behavior is reinforced. Once you identify their triggers, until you can formulate a plan to address them it’s best to avoid them. This allows you to avoid further reinforcing undesirable behaviors and it buys you some time.
In most cases, this is just a Band-Aid. You can’t avoid feeding your dog and if you have a multi-pet household it’s challenging to separate all your pets. You also can’t stop walking your dog even if that’s an activity associated with their reactive tendencies.
In time, you will have to gradually confront the triggers. The key is to slowly introduce them to situations where they’re prone to be reactive but redirect their behavior. It is also ideal to keep triggers at a distance so they can create positive associations without the risk of being overstimulated. This can be done with treats or any other reward system. The hope is to allow greater freedom to do things with your dog by lessening their reactivity.
Axl’s most concerning display of reactivity was when he was on a leash. I initially avoided his triggers by walking him during times when my neighborhood was less crowded. This meant a lot of nighttime walks to avoid encountering other dogs. Eventually, I began walking him during the day. However, when we encountered another dog, I would take steps to mitigate his reactions. He isn’t very food-motivated, so I would make him sit and tell him how great he is. That way he was more focused on me praising him than the dog walking past us. In time he has become less reactive, and I have developed strategies to avoid confrontations with other dogs.
Making A Routine
Once you know why your dog is reactive, what triggers them, and you have identified strategies to combat those behaviors, you need to find a routine that works for both of you. Humans aren’t the only ones who benefit from a routine. Structure is vital for any animal, but especially for reactive ones.
Elements such as consistent mealtimes, a healthy exercise regimen, and adequate mental stimulation are the most important components of their routine. When you and your dog can find a steady rhythm, it becomes much easier to continuously work on improving their reactivity. Reactive behaviors will never change overnight. It is essential to continually reinforce the correct behaviors and that can be an indefinite process.
The Truth About Dealing With A Reactive Dog
If you have a reactive dog, you must confront a sobering fact. You may never move past the mitigation of reactive behaviors. Some dogs can work through their reactivity. However, others cannot. Some dogs may require less structure, but others may always require a very rigid routine dedicated to avoiding and controlling their reactive behaviors.
It was hard for me to accept that Axl would always be somewhat reactive. He has gotten better, but we still must be extremely careful. I would love to be able to sit on a restaurant patio with him on a nice summer evening, and I’m sure he would love that too. However, it’s just not in the cards for us.
I won’t sugarcoat it; it genuinely sucks when you have a reactive dog, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a rewarding relationship. Building that relationship does take more effort and sacrifice compared to a dog that isn’t reactive. You’re going to have to spend more time on training and there is likely a financial burden associated with that. For example, to make sure that Axl gets enough exercise and to ensure his safety we had to invest in fencing our yard.
Having pets isn’t for everyone, and having a reactive dog adds another challenge. Nonetheless, that challenge doesn’t have to be insurmountable. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to accept and love your dog for who they are. We can do a lot as owners to instill and reward good behaviors. It is your responsibility to make sure you meet your dog’s needs.
Please let us know in the comments below if you have a reactive dog and what strategies you have utilized to help mitigate their behavior.
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