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Reactivity vs. Aggressive

Written by PVHS• July 31, 2024

Do you know the difference between reactivity and aggressiveness in dogs?

~ by Tania Sigurdson, PVHS Education Chair with help from Tracie Titchkosky, No Bad Dogs Training

I am not a dog expert – just a dog lover who wants every dog to have a loving home and a positive experience. As a dog owner, dog sitter, and Pembina Valley Humane Society dog foster, I think it is really important that we recognize the difference between a dog who is stressed and reactive verses a dog who is aggressive.

Volunteering at the Humane Society means we come in contact with dogs that we often do not know the history of or their story. And since they can’t tell us, it is really important that we stay tuned into their signals and the things they are trying to tell us by how they behave. And let’s be honest, not all dogs have had a great start before coming to the PVHS, and here they have an opportunity to find a new start and a new loving family.

When we don’t know the history of a dog, or as we are just getting to know our new pet, it is really important to understand the difference between dog reactivity and dog aggression. Misinterpreting these behaviors can lead to improper training methods and exacerbate problems rather than solve them. Here are three ways to identify the difference and why it’s important not to confuse the two.

1. Body Language

Reactivity: Dogs that are reactive often exhibit body language indicating excitement, fear, or anxiety. Common signs include:

Lunging forward with a wagging tail.
Barking or whining with ears forward, sideways or pinned back.
Pacing or circling with dilated pupils.

Aggression: Aggressive dogs display more intense and threatening body language. Look for signs such as:

Snarling with a stiff, upright tail.
Snapping or biting with a fixed stare.

Understanding these differences in body language can help prevent misinterpretation. A reactive dog may simply be overstimulated or fearful, while an aggressive dog is intent on causing harm.

2. Triggers and Context

Reactivity: Reactive behavior is often context-dependent and can be triggered by specific stimuli, such as other dogs, strangers, or loud noises. A reactive dog may react consistently to these triggers but is otherwise calm and friendly.

Aggression: Aggression can occur with or without clear triggers and may be directed at specific individuals or situations.

Understanding the context and triggers for a dog’s behavior can help identify whether a dog is reactive or aggressive. Reactivity tends to be more situational, while aggression can be more generalized.

3. Intensity and Recovery Time

Reactivity: Dogs experiencing a reactive response (whether the situation is deemed reactive or aggressive have a cortisol dump in the brain and body that can take hours to days to subside, a fear based, reactive dog may not recover as quickly as you think and may react even more quickly and more “aggressively” if encountering stimulus again within a short period of time.

Aggression: Aggressive behavior often involves a sustained and intense response. Aggressive dogs are more general aggressive while reactive dogs can be triggered more easily in the moment.

Recognizing the intensity and recovery time helps in distinguishing between a dog that is momentarily reactive and one that poses a genuine threat. Immediate and effective de-escalation techniques are essential for managing both types of behavior safely.

Why It Matters

Both reactive and aggressive dogs need patience, time, consistency, training and support. Proper identification and understanding of these behaviors enable more effective training, better safety, and improved well-being for both dogs and their owners. We all want happy and relaxed dogs.