Frustrated greeter

How it works

The motivation is the opposite of fear, and the display is nearly identical, which is why these dogs are so often described as aggressive. The leash is usually the barrier. Off-leash, the same dog typically greets normally and settles quickly. The behavior is maintained by frustration rather than by threat, so the work centers on impulse control and on being able to attend to a handler while something exciting is present, rather than on changing an emotional association.

What it looks like

A dog screams and pulls toward every dog on the street. At a friend's house, off-leash, they greet the resident dog calmly within seconds and then ignore them entirely for the rest of the visit.

Commonly confused with

Barrier frustration

Barrier frustration is the general case: any obstruction between a dog and something they want. A frustrated greeter is the social version of it, specifically about reaching other dogs or people.

Related terms