REACTIVE VS AGGRESSIVE DOG: THE DIFFERENCE AND TRAINING

Dog Reactivity vs. Dog Aggression - is your dog reactive or is your dog aggressive? In this video, I break down the difference between dog aggression and dog reactivity.

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Disclaimers: Jenna Romano is not a veterinarian. Always consult a veterinarian before giving your dog any food. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Jenna Romano will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this video including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death to you or your dog. This video is not instructional. This video is for entertainment purposes only.

[ktrainergsd]

As a trainer of dogs for 40 plus years (and still learning daily) I believe we need to communicate to our clients in the easiest way for them to understand. All the science means nothing if they don’t understand it. Let’s get the learning part first, then work on vocabulary. I want to thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and hosting this channel. It’s so refreshing to hear science based training techniques and philosophies. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[ashleya]

I like that you said, 'I struggle with this". Reminds me that I'm not the only one who struggles with stuff (in dog training) LOL! You brought up some great points about titling dogs. On one hand: I think that the terms are useful jargon because, like you pointed out, people immediately grasp an idea without a lengthy, roundabout explanation.

On the other hand: I do think that I get more frustrated with Kai (at times) because he is a "this" or "that" dog. He's not a "normal" dog like other peoples' dogs. Which, as we both know, is not true and pretty much only stems from the labels given him. They push me away from remembering that it is a natural phenomenon and my dog actually IS "normal" haha.

So, I think it would be helpful if there could be a new or alternate term to use that better classifies the dogs. I'm sure, as time goes on, this will happen. It will give us a more neutral and clear view of what is actually happening. I don't have a name for it, but perhaps you can think of one! haha.

[ManinaHarris]

Thank you so much for all your content and for addressing this issue. It's so important to be able to short-hand communicate but then that often gets stuck as a label for dogs just as it does for kids. The labels can actually prohibit a complete view of either one and blind us to great qualities in the animal or kid. In working with people who's animals display aggressive behavior, I find it's hard sometimes for the people to feel warmly toward their pet after a few incidents of aggressive behavior, especially when that behavior results in one or several bites. I appreciate your pointing out that this is "normal" behavior and I appreciate the clarity of your discussion. If we see it is somehow aberrant I think it limits how we can effectively respond and change the behavior and it also limits our ability to help heal the human/canine connection of our clients.

[janhankins]

I think age is also a factor when we're dealing with "excitement reactivity". This has been brought home to me when we ended up with an 8-week-old puppy (it just kind of "happened"; it was totally unplanned, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world now). He's now just over a year old and is getting better, but it's taking him a long time to mature enough to where everything is not quite as exciting. We took great pains to socialize him to other dogs (he's now full grown and weighs a whopping 8.5 lbs) and we certainly didn't want a little yapper who'd act with aggression toward larger dogs. Now he's learning that he can't approach every dog and that not all dogs are his bosom buddies. We took great pains to socialize him to all kinds of people and we purposefully took him places where people would WANT to pet him. Now he's learning that not everybody exists to pet him. But he's still a bit on the "excited" side (side note: training was halted for about three months due to a congenital issue which required surgery and lengthy recovery; he came through it all like a real trooper and I couldn't be prouder of him).

[gordonprice]

For what it's worth, I too was struggling a bit with the REactive label, until I realized I could pair it with it's opposite, PROactive. Proactive means you influence your world such that you can proactively make things happen, and reactive means you have no control or influence and things happen to you that you then respond to. Without close association with humans, the natural state of any "wild" animal is going to be basically reactive. There is minimal opportunity to be proactive, so the animal only engages in reactive behavior, gets reinforced for some of it and does it more. If a dog is reactive, it is only because it hasn't been shown that it has a proactive option. So, be it an adult dog or a puppy, reactivity is just the natural way for a dog to behave, until I show them there is another option. I also try to focus on the behavior, not the dog, as we are supposed to with Operant Conditioning. So it's not that the dog is reactive, it is that a particular behavior was. Given how many dogs are only "reactive" when on a leash, i.e. restrained, labeling the dog as reactive when in fact that behavior only manifests in a very limited and easily identifiable subset of conditions is not at all appropriate.

[dariab]

I think it’s okay with context because even though it can be hurtful to people owning an “aggressive” dog, it can also give a reality check to people who say “my dog is reactive” while completely being in denial of the fact that their dog can bite or kill someone in case of a management failure.

Also, we know, like you say in this video, that behaviour serves a purpose (e.g. creating more space).
What about dogs who display same sex aggression? There are breeds who are considered “same sex aggressive“ according to the “breeding standard“ and those are likely to initiate a confrontation with a supposed intent to harm. Is there any explanation behind that (e.g. is this resource related? Testosterone related?)
I saw your video on types of aggression (it was amazing) but didn’t particularly find an answer there

[jackiep]

I love all of this. But when/ how do we safely and effectively socialize dogs that are “aggressive”? Thanks!

[janhankins]

I try to say things like "the dog is exhibiting aggressive (or reactive) behavior". That's a bit more of a tongue twister and takes a little longer, but I think it's important when dealing with others who know little about training, etc. that we NOT label the dog. Saying "aggressive dog" makes them think the dog is "beyond help" and that's a "personality flaw" with the dog and the dog will "always" be aggressive. But I think once you have really defined exactly what you mean by a label and all working with a particular case know what you mean, it's okay to label the behavior something. For example, I worked with a horse who was just the most loving thing, but she was "reactive" (in the "OMG!!! A person is coming to pet I LOVE people. They're going to give me OMG, I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait"!). She would run (as fast as she could) to people and then head butt them (often knocking them down in the process), trying to stick her entire nose in a treat pouch (it didn't fit, but she'd try anyway), she'd stomp her foot if you didn't pet her fast enough (and stomped on people, broke some toes and a foot in the process). Notice, this horse was in NO WAY, SHAPE, or FORM aggressive. Just a little too excited about people and treats. We decided to call the behavior of headbutting, trying to stick her nose in the treat pouch, and stomping her foot "mugging". So we'd say "Gypsy is mugging me" and everyone know what you meant. But I really try to stay away from such negative labels as "aggressive", "reactive", "hyperactive" because they describe who a dog IS (rather than what a dog DOES). But I've used terms like "mugging", "berserk", and "spaced out".

[abifkahansen]

I for sure get the struggle with the label. I am currently working with a dog with some of these issues, I am curious what you actually do to curb it, and give the dog more confidence in these situations.

[maceym.]

Please help I have no idea what to do- we have two dachshunds and the older one is absolutely amazing. He’s almost perfect. The younger we recently got we are so in love with and he’s the sweetest cuddliest dog and loves our other dog and families dogs. However, out on walks he displays reactivity/agression and there is no stopping him. We find that in busier settings he displays fear and hides and runs whereas when he can focus on one or two dogs the reaction is through the roof. Lunging snarling and mouthing their necks in an agressive/dominant manner. He also has behaviors like peeing when afraid or excited. Which is all so weird because as a small puppy he was extremely calm. I don’t know if it’s because he’s nearing 6 months and needs to be neutered, this started at around 4.5 months. We’ve tried training with treats etc and using those tools when on walks to try and shift his focus, we’ve tried correction like a quick (not too hard) pull of the lead to the side (harness not collar ) to try and snap him out if it, and we’ve tried intentionally following other dogs until he calms down and none has created lasting results. Please help!

[EricKrueger-dkqe]

So when a coyote is discovered on my property stalking livestock and my dog chases him off AND leaps the fence after predator . Then neighbor shows up at this moment and declare the dog is aggressive. No bite, no significant physical contact.
WTF! No injuries did his duty!

[mindfullygreen]

We rescued a dog and he’s the sweetest boy but he just attacked my wife when she freaked out about a spider being on her. I don’t know what to do I’m scared

[theycallmecotton]

watched the whole video.. still havent seen you train with results