Reactive VS. Aggressive.

Our furry friends can be sweet and loving with you and act the exact opposite when meeting others.

Dogs come in different shapes, sizes, builds, characters, breeds, and temperaments. Our furry friends can be sweet and loving with you and act the exact opposite when meeting others. Your dog can snarl, jump, pull its leash, bark, and even bite. This dangerous behavior can be a cause for concern for most dog owners. 

Before you seek professional help, you should know that this behavior can be either reactive or aggressive. There's a difference, and we will discuss all that in the coming paragraphs as well as how to train an aggressive or reactive dog. 

Let's get to it!

What is a reactive dog?

When we say reactive dogs, we are referring to dogs that overreact in ordinary situations. They typically don't misbehave except when they are frustrated, frightened or enter a new environment. 

For instance, you may be taking a nice walk with your dog and suddenly meet another dog. Your dog can start jumping, barking, and tugging at the leash. This action is not because they want to harm the other party. It means they simply don't know how to respond appropriately. This reactive behavior could also be because they've not had enough socialization with other dogs or they've not been trained well. 

Here are some behaviors of a reactive dog

• Cowering

• Barking

• Being hyper-vigilant 

• Growling 

• Lunging

You must understand what triggers your dog's behavior. Sometimes it can have something to do with their past. Your dog may not like tall people, children or people holding umbrellas. It could also be because your dog doesn't like wearing a leash and feels trapped.

Typically, your dog's reactive behavior is mostly driven by triggers and lack of training. So, if you learn to eliminate what triggers their fears and start training your dog, you will have a better-behaved dog. 

What is an aggressive dog?

An aggressive dog is a little difficult to differentiate from a reactive dog because the signs are kinda similar. An aggressive dog can snap, growl, bark, stiffens its body, or lift its lip. These behaviors are your dog trying to communicate fear or anxiety, especially fear.

When you notice these aggressive behaviors, it's actually best to go to the vet. The vet would help rule out any medical cause for the sudden aggression. For aggressive behaviors, the cause is usually fear-based. And the natural response to that is either fight or flight.

For instance, if an aggressive dog is on a leash, it can't run, so it would only display fight responses. Another reason why your dog is aggressive is that they feel they're guarding something. These things could be a person, food, toy, or an area—basically, anything of importance to them. 

It's important not to confuse rough plays and curiosity in puppies as aggression. When dogs are little, they interact with the world through their mouth. Sometimes overstimulation occurs, and they bite harder than they expect. Again, what you ought to do is start training them to have restraint.

Now, the question is? How do you train a reactive dog or an aggressive dog? We'll get there but let's look at the difference between the two.

Reactive vs. Aggressive Dog.

Your furry friend being reactive doesn't mean it's aggressive. What differentiates these two behaviors is that an aggressive dog usually responds to fear while a reactive dog responds to triggers. An aggressive dog is a reactive dog that has been pushed too far. 

Your dog would start showing frustration when put in a situation that makes them uncomfortable. It's best you find out what the trigger is. Don't assume your dog will grow out of it.

How to train a reactive dog?

As we have stated, your reactive dog is simply overreacting to a trigger. To train your reactive dog, first identify the trigger and then use it to your advantage.

For instance, if your dog is triggered by the presence of your friend's dog, do this—Get a treat for your dog. Something you know they really love and don't eat often. Then invite your friend to come with their dog. Once the other animal is in your dog's space, give your dog the treat.

Once the annoying dog has left the situation, stop giving your dog the treat. You do this to associate that triggering dog with the feeling of getting treats. Now, repeat this action over and over. 

Make sure you start from a reasonable distance from the triggering dog. If your dog is too close to the other one, they get stressed and can't learn. Then as time goes on, you can bring both dogs closer.

To know if your dog is not too reactive, they should be able to sniff the treat and take it. If they start barking and can't eat, take steps back. A good way to measure the reactivity of your dog is to observe the body tension.

How to train an aggressive dog?

To train an aggressive dog, find out why the dog is acting the way they do. Are they in pain? Is the dog protecting something? Identifying why your dog is being aggressive is the first step. This action will help you tailor your training. 

Once you've figured out why you can call a professional to help you train your dog. Using a professional is best because it prevents stress down the road. 

When training your aggressive dog, don't use punishment. That's not going to be effective. It's best to be calm but firm. If you make the dog fearful, that fear may only make it more aggressive. You don't want that!

To train your aggressive dog, take your dog to a setting that you know makes them a little aggressive, exposing them for only a short while. Do this with a leash or other tools such as muzzles, e-collars or pinch collars.

As your furry friend is being exposed to that situation, reassure them that they shouldn't be scared. Then reward them when they behave properly.

Know that training a reactive or aggressive dog won't be easy. So, be sure to seek professional help if things become hard.