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Are you feeling that somehow out of nowhere your perfectly-behaved dog started showing signs of reactivity or aggression?
Dog parents can often get surprised by a growl or a snap that seems out of character for their dog. Whether it's been a one-time thing or happened more frequently, we all want to understand the why/what/when behind our dogs' behavior so we can support our dogs and avoid high-stress incidents in the future.
Let's jump into understanding reactivity, aggression, and our dogs - and what we can do as their trusted humans to have their backs. (You can watch me talk through all this and answer questions in the accompanying video above of my recorded-live support & learning group on reactivity and aggression with dog parents like you.)
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Dogs don't want to behave aggressively. They send us all kinds of signals for our help to get them out of stressful/scary situations so they can avoid resorting to aggressive behavior. We just need to listen.
As a professional dog trainer, I have many dog owners coming to me for help with their "aggressive" dogs when the vast majority are showing reactive behavior rather than aggressive.
Many dogs who are mistaken for an aggressive dog are actually reactive, and they're reacting naturally as fearful dogs. Learning the difference helps you know how to work with your dog. When you know your dog is afraid rather than aggressive, it opens up how you think about and enjoy life with your pup while you're working on any issues.
Reactivity and aggression are two different things. We're reactive as humans; if the doorbell rings, we get up to answer it. We react to the world around us, and so do our dogs. They're not "bad" dogs, they're reacting to what's happening around them.
When it appears to be sudden, when we think it comes out of nowhere, there have already been signs or reasons that we haven't seen. There are all kinds of reactions from dogs for various things. A dog's behavior can include growling or what looks like aggressive behavior but it doesn't always. So although there can be overlap in the outward signs, reactivity and aggression in dogs are two separate things.
Reactivity: showing a response to a stimulus; acting in response to a situation rather than creating or controlling it.
Aggression: hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another; forceful and sometimes overly assertive pursuit of one's aims and interests.
There are different types of reactivity reacting to different triggers - other dogs, humans, on-leash, fear of all kinds of things/situations.
If you see signs of truly sudden reactivity or of aggressive behavior, consult your vet. We always want to rule out any medical issues that could be influencing concerning or out-of-character behavior. Even relatively minor gut or joint issues can have an impact on your dog's behavior.
Side note - Even more rare is something called "canine rage syndrome." Again, it is extremely rare. In this case, a dog's aggression is characterized by no discernible trigger and a glazed look, lasts for minutes or hours, is believed to be associated with seizures, has a genetic component, and is usually reported between 1-3 years of age. Consult your vet if you see any signs of this syndrome.
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What's usually called "the ladder of canine aggression" - really a misnomer - is actually more about the building signs dogs show in reacting when they feel discomfort in a situation. Being aware of this ladder and getting familiar with each step is extremely helpful in recognizing a situation that could either escalate instantly or build over time.
A growl, a snap, or a bite-miss can all be our dogs' way of telling us loudly that they need space or some kind of help making the threat or threatening situation disappear. Dogs bite pretty accurately and don't usually miss if they want to bite something, so a snap or a missed bite or nip is usually the equivalent of a dog raising his/her voice to a roar to get the threat to back off or get us to pay attention, step in and make it go away.
If you take a look at the accompanying video above, you can see a graphic illustration of the ladder with each step that's also helpful.
The steps typically play out in this order but over weeks, months, years, if we as their humans don't hear our dogs talking to us, they quit wasting time with the initial steps on the ladder and jump ahead to where they know they'll get attention. That's often when a dog bites "suddenly" - either the dog has learned we won't pay attention to subtle cues and jumps to the end actions, or we humans have missed the lead-up signs in this particular instance. Either way, we can create a different outcome by being observant.
Thankfully, if you have been missing and not responding to your dog's build-up signs and your dog has started jumping right to the end of the behavior progression, you can still change that.
If you start really seeing and hearing your dog, you can give your dog back a sense of trust that he or she can let you know you're needed and you can be counted on to step in. Those earlier steps on the ladder get filled back up as your dog begins to trust that you are watching and have his/her back.
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Really everything matters, since dogs speak to us with the entirety of their body, but to begin, if you focus on your dog's face that will tell you the most. A wagging tail, for example, is not going to tell you much; a wagging tail is not necessarily a sign of a happy dog.
(All 3 are photos I've taken of my family/client dogs that you can see in the accompanying video above, along with the Play Bow and Prey Bow examples)
1) CJ in the snow:
What you can see - wrinkled forehead, turned head, no eye contact, raised eyebrow, closed mouth, leaning away from me
What it says: I thought I was just taking a nice photo of CJ in the snow, but he was letting me know he had enough with the photos.
2) Two dogs, smaller Jack on ground on back & Lady standing:
What you can see: smaller Jack - exposed belly, wagging tail, exposed teeth/commissures pulled back; larger Lady - high tail, slight shift forward body, smooth wrinkle-free face
What it says: Often on-back position is saying, "I mean no harm, I'm no threat, please step away," and Jack's exposed teeth add a warning to please move back. Meanwhile, Lady is harmless, just wants to say a nice hi, and doesn't quite know what to do. (If this happened in real life, you would want to gently guide Lady away, introduce some space, de-stressing the situation and letting Jack relax. Then treats all around!)
3) CJ sitting, seeing other dog across the street:
What you can see: CJ leaning forward, alert ears, hard-ish eyes, flared nostrils, closed, tight commissures, whisker beds standing up
What it says: Just seeing the other dog across the street has put CJ on guard, getting him stressed about the dog coming any closer and he's moving up the ladder with his body language saying "make this threat go away."
An example of full body language that can be confusing but very useful to know is the play bow vs the prey bow. They look similar but have opposite implications.
Everyone loves to see a play bow (rear in the air, elbows forward touching the ground). It's an invitation to play - a sweet, beautiful thing to see.
With a prey bow, elbows do not touch the ground, they're not playing, they're unsure, with a rigid body and hard stare. Sometimes dogs in prey bow mode are getting low to get small in hopes that the thing doesn't come any closer and goes away. It can also be to get ready to surprise and pounce if necessary. If this happens with your dog, again your best friend is distance. Use your quick, chipper and calm u-turn, then when safely away comfort your dog and shower with treats.
There's one exception on the elbow detail: dogs who play together regularly don't always go into full play bow with elbows on the ground. They're familiar and are more loose and relaxed about it all.
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Managing reactivity or aggressive behaviors can sometimes seem like a lot but please know there is so much help! You're not in this alone. We're here to help you and your dog get where you need to be to feel comfortable, safe, and happy.
Just by being more aware (don't check your phone, don't get distracted), you and your dog both will be more connected and enjoy your walks infinitely more. And remember, every day is different, your dog will have good days and not so good days, you will miss things and make mistakes. Give yourself (and your dog) some grace! Misses happen, just acknowledge them, learn from them, and move on.
Be present and have fun with your dog!
Now that you have a solid base of understanding of what reactivity is, the causes behind it, and how to anticipate it, you and your pup are ready for what's next. Coming up: management skills and then training techniques to help your dog feel more comfortable in trigger situations of all kinds.
If you have any questions on your dog and reactivity, jump into our Community Discussion. Continue in our Reactivity Channel where you'll learn everything you need to know for your dog from our community of Dogly Training Advocates.
And if you need more individualized training help, get started in your dog's training plan.
DISCLAIMER: The content of this website and community is based on the research, expertise, and views of each respective author. Information here is not intended to replace your one-on-one relationship with your veterinarian, but as a sharing of information and knowledge to help arm dog parents to make more informed choices. We encourage you to make health care decisions based on your research and in partnership with your vet. In cases of distress, medical issues, or emergency, always consult your veterinarian.