Field Guide · Glossary
Fear-based reactivity
Reactivity and fearBarking, lunging or growling that functions to increase the distance between a dog and something they find frightening.
How it works
The behavior works, which is why it persists: the other dog or person almost always moves away eventually, and the dog learns that the display produced the outcome. That makes it a strategy rather than a malfunction. It typically appears at a distance the dog cannot tolerate, so the practical response is to work further away rather than to interrupt the display. Punishing it can suppress the noise while leaving the fear intact.
What it looks like
A dog begins barking at another dog a hundred feet away. The other handler crosses the road. From the dog's point of view, barking made the frightening thing leave, and it will be the first option next time.
Commonly confused with
- Frustrated greeter
- A frustrated greeter is trying to reach the other dog and cannot. A fearful dog is trying to make it go away. Both bark and lunge on a tight leash, and telling them apart decides the entire plan.
Related terms