How to Train Your Dog That's Reactive to Other Dogs

Where do you start if your dog is reactive to other dogs? There are many types of dog reactivity out there. At Sniffspot, we've seen them all. Our network of private dog parks was designed with reactive pups in mind!

Reactivity triggers can be just about anything—strangers, cars, bikes and skateboards—but in this article we’re going to talk specifically about dogs who are reactive to other dogs. Read on for some key dog reactivity definitions, an overview of what can cause dog-dog reactivity, some frequently asked questions, and further resources to help you and your pup along your training journey.

You’ve got this!

1) Key dog reactivity terms and definitions

First, let’s get our definitions straight. Dog reactivity is a big topic with a whole dictionary's worth of associated terms.

What does “reactive” mean?

While every living animal is constantly “reacting” to its environment—you might put on a sweatshirt when you notice you’re cold or head to open the door when you hear a knock—dog trainers usually use “reactive” to describe pets who overreact to stimuli in their environments.

Dog reactivity encompasses a range of unwanted behaviors (barking, growling, lunging, jumping, pulling, and so on) in situations that typically don’t warrant them in our minds. Their triggers—in this case other dogs—behave normally in a non threatening way. For some reason they're still overwhelming or scary to our dogs, though.

Basically: Your puppy who woofs once or twice when startled by an unfamiliar dog around a blind corner? They would not be diagnosed with reactivity. That's a natural, reasonably sized response! If your dog barks, growls, and lunges at every dog they see out on a walk, on the other hand? A professional trainer would probably diagnose them with dog-dog reactivity.

What are most dogs reactive to?

You're in great company if your dog struggles with reactivity towards other dogs. According to proprietary Sniffspot research, 51% of reactive dogs are reactive to other dogs only.

8% of reactive dogs are reactive to people only and 37% of reactive dogs are reactive to both dogs and people. Another 4% of reactive dogs are reactive to other things than dogs and people, like bikes, skateboards, and cars. These results show that dog-dog reactivity is most common.

2) Types of dog-dog reactivity

Typically, dog-reactive dogs have one of two goals in mind. They either want to get away from another dog they find scary (this is fear-based reactivity) or want to get closer to another dog to say hello (this is frustration-based reactivity). 

Fear-based dog reactivity

Fear-based dog reactivity is often caused when nervous or uncertain dogs feel trapped in a certain situation. Think about a porcupine puffing out their quills to make something scary go away! Your dog might appear to show aggressive behaviors, but they don’t want to go out of their way to cause harm. They’re just experiencing anxiety and really want to be left alone.

We humans often feel that this is inappropriate behavior, but it makes perfect sense to our canine companions, especially if they've had a bad experience with another dog in the past. Even just strong eye contact from an unknown pet can make them worry for their personal space and safety.

You can read more about fear aggression in this guide.

Excitement- or frustration-based dog reactivity

Frustration-based leash reactivity, on the other hand, stems from a dog wanting to interact with something they can’t. This is common in social dogs who regularly visit dog parks or attend daycare. They love other pets and feel frustrated when they aren’t allowed to greet them! That frustration (especially when being held back on a leash) can quickly build into a reactive display. In extreme cases it can even lead to serious aggression.

If your dog’s reactivity is limited to when they’re tethered, this article talks about fixing leash reactivity or leash aggression specifically.

Lack of fulfillment or general overarousal can contribute to dog reactivity

We bred certain traits into dog breeds over generations and generations. Two examples:

1. Herders are hyper-aware of their surroundings.
2. Terriers have an intense desire to chase prey.

So if your Cattle Dog is barking at quick-moving objects or your Jack Russell keeps lunging after rabbits, there’s a chance their reactivity is caused by unmet genetic drives—not a lack of socialization, or too much socialization, or even fear.

Some dogs also struggle with general overarousal even if they aren’t acting on specific breed traits. If your pet can’t seem to settle down even in familiar environments, triggers out in the world can be like the straw that broke the camel’s back. They're the final stimulus that puts your pup all the way over their threshold (which is low already) even though the real problem is bigger than that one thing.

3) Frequently asked questions about dog-directed reactivity

Can dog-reactive dogs be social with other pets?

Whether a dog-reactive dog can be social with other pets—like fellow dogs, cats, or even small animals—depends on factors like their unique temperament, training, and past experiences.

Some dog-reactive dogs may be able to coexist peacefully with other animals. Others might always prefer to live alone, though.

How should I introduce my dog-reactive dog to other pets?

Introduce your reactive dog to any other animals slowly. Set up controlled circumstances where you can intervene if necessary! By monitoring interactions carefully—and providing positive reinforcement for calm, socially appropriate behavior—you can set everyone up for a successful introduction.

Professional guidance from a force free dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist may also be helpful if you’re hoping to introduce your dog-reactive pup to other pets.

I still don’t understand why my dog is growling if they actually just want to say hi?

It can be hard to understand why dogs might bark or growl even if they want to be friendly. Frustration-based dog reactivity can be especially confusing for pet parents of social butterflies who suddenly start making scenes on walks!

Let's sum it up simply:

• Excitement and overstimulation: Some dogs become frustrated when they are overly excited or stimulated. (Some of us humans do, too. Think about really intense games or sporting events you’ve been a part of!) This can lead to reactive behavior.
• Leash restriction: The leash is usually a core part of frustration-based dog reactivity. Dogs on leashes feel restricted, which leads to frustration. When they are unable to approach another dog freely, they may bark or growl as a way of expressing that they feel pent up.

To address frustration-based reactivity, we dog owners need to provide proper socialization, positive reinforcement focused training, and controlled introductions.

If my dog is scared of other dogs, why wouldn’t they just try to run away?

While fear can indeed lead some dogs to try and escape or avoid a situation with another dog, fear-based reactions are complex. The emotion can manifest in various ways!

Growling and barking can be defensive behaviors—not just outright aggressive behavior as we often think of them—a fearful dog uses to communicate discomfort. Often these reactions help your pup establish a safe distance if they're unable to move themselves away from a perceived threat.

Let's sum up why a fearful dog might growl and bark instead of running away:

• Fear can trigger a defensive form of aggression. Growling and barking may be your dog's way of trying to appear more intimidating to deter the perceived threat.
• In certain situations—like when on leash—a fearful dog may feel cornered. Without a clear escape route, they turn to defensive behaviors like growling and barking as a way to create space. Think about the well-known "fight or flight" instinct. If we remove flight as an option? We leave our dogs with fight.

Remember that each dog is an individual. Every pet's responses to fear can vary! If your dog displays any sort of reactive behaviors, don't just assume they're being mean, outright aggressive, or not feeling scared simply because they’re also being loud.

Did I do something wrong to make my dog reactive to other dogs?

A combination of genetics, early experiences, socialization, ongoing training, and your dog's current environment influence their behavior. It's impossible to perfectly isolate variables!

While parts of your lifestyle may have contributed to your dog developing reactivity towards other dogs—like lots of on-leash greetings in a busy neighborhood, for example—it's not helpful to fixate on whose "fault" anything is. If your pup struggles, it's not all on you. Let us say that one more time. If your dog struggles with reactivity, you are not a bad owner.

Many dogs have some form of dog reactivity. Even professional trainers struggle with dog-dog reactivity with their own family members! What matters most is that you’re learning and training to help your canine companion feel better.

4) Further reading and learning

Here are a few of our favorite resources to learn more about dog reactivity.

More Sniffspot blogs on dog reactivity

We have an entire blog category devoted to dog reactivity and related problem or unwanted behaviors. One of our primary goals is to be a welcoming community for reactive dogs! That’s why we have specific rules (like gaps between arrivals and transparency about other animals within view) to keep all Sniffspot visits safe.

• How to Train a Reactive Dog: A Beginner’s Guide for everything you need to know to get started implementing a training program for your reactive dog
• How to Socialize Your Reactive Dog for help on how to give your fearful, frustrated, or otherwise reactive dog positive experiences with other dogs
• Dog Reactivity Chart for help understanding the current level of reactivity your dog shows in different moments

Other dog reactivity resources

• Trainer Patricia McConnell’s guide to how to handle reactive dogs
• CARE For Reactive Dogs is a whole website dedicated to methods and gear for dealing with a reactive dog
• Suzanne Clothier reactive dog training scenario set up
• Trainer Alice Tong’s engage-disengage game (specific to leash reactivity, but can be applied to other types of reactivity as well)
• The VCA’s guide to counterconditioning and desensitization 

Good luck, and remember: you’re not alone. When in doubt, get in touch with a professional force free trainer you trust. And know you can always bring your dog to a Sniffspot for some playtime!

Trainer Review of this Article

There is so much misinformation out there, and we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality content to our community. We have our articles reviewed by qualified force free trainers.  

This is the trainer that reviewed this article:

Marnie Montgomery
PMCT4, CPDT-KA
Tellington TTouch® Practitioner
Fear-Free Certified Professional

Survey Statistics

Sniffspot Research 2023, n = 4,092