Course Description

A dog displaying signs of reactivity isn’t necessarily aggressive. However, it’s important to understand the difference between these two states and to prevent a reactive dog from crossing the threshold into anger and hostility.

What does it mean when someone says a dog is “reactive”? This word often causes feelings of uncertainty, trepidation, possibly even fear, because many people believe it means the dog is aggressive or hostile. It’s not surprising, because our perception of reactivity often correlates with a range of unpleasant, problematic personality traits, such as barking at everyone, lunging or charging at people, and growling or snapping. But do such traits automatically mean the dog is hostile and aggressive? Should a dog labelled as reactive always be considered a threat?

Things to Learn

Identify dog behaviour