Field Guide · Glossary
Reactivity
Reactivity and fearAn outsized response, such as barking, lunging or spinning, to an everyday thing that most dogs pass without comment.
How it works
It describes the size of the response rather than its cause, which is why the word alone says very little about what to do. The underlying driver might be fear, frustration at not reaching something, over-excitement, pain, or a learned habit that once worked. Those need different plans and are frequently confused, since the visible display looks much the same. Naming the driver, and the specific triggers, is what separates a plan from a guess.
What it looks like
Three dogs on the same street all bark at a passing cyclist. One is frightened, one wants to chase, and one has learned that barking makes cyclists speed up and disappear. The behavior looks identical and the training differs completely.
Commonly confused with
- Over-arousal
- Over-arousal is a state of excitement too high to think through, whatever caused it. Reactivity describes a pattern of large responses to particular triggers. An over-aroused dog is not necessarily reactive, and a reactive dog is not always over-aroused.
Related terms
Where this comes up
In the reading list
Gear that helps
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Front-clip no-pull harness (Freedom-style)
The front clip gives you steering without pressure on a dog's throat, which is why we start most pullers here. The 2 Hounds Freedom set is well made and holds up, made in the USA.
Basket muzzle (Baskerville-style)
A conditioned basket muzzle lets a dog pant, drink, and take treats, so it's a safety tool, not a punishment. We use it for reactive dogs in public and any dog still learning to be handled at the vet.
"In training / reactive" leash ID patch
Tells the world to give your dog space before they get too close. We recommend one for any dog who needs distance, reactive or just in training.
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