Effective Solutions for Dog Reactivity

Are you struggling with your furry friend's aggression or anxiety issues? Look no further, as we have found the perfect solution for you and your beloved companion. Train Loyal Companions, LLC is a leading expert in dog training and behavior modification, offering effective solutions for all breeds and backgrounds.

It’s essential to understand canine reactivity and the reasons behind a dog’s defensive responses to keep your family safe.

Why Dogs Growl: Neurobiology of Safety

Any animal with teeth can bite when stressed. Knowing a dog’s “reactivity threshold” or the neurobiology of safety, can help prevent incidents. When threatened, animals activate defensive behaviors such as freezing or engaging in fight-or-flight responses.

The "fight-or-flight" response is a natural, instinctive reaction to danger. If a dog feels threatened, its nervous system will respond to either confront or escape the perceived threat.

The broader collection of responses includes:

• Fight: When your body feels that it is in danger and believes you can overpower the threat, you’ll respond in fight mode. Your brain releases signals to your body, preparing it for the physical demands of fighting. When a dog perceives it can overcome a threat, it may respond by growling or snapping.

• Flight: If your body believes you cannot overcome the danger but can avoid it by running away, you’ll respond in flight mode. A surge of hormones, like adrenaline, give your body the stamina to run from danger longer than you typically could. If the dog believes escape is possible, it may attempt to flee.

• Freeze: This stress response causes you to feel stuck in place. This response happens when your body doesn’t think you can fight or flight. When unable to fight or flee, a dog may become immobilized to avoid drawing attention to itself.

• Fawn: This response is used after an unsuccessful fight, flight, or freeze attempt and is a way of goofing around or trying to distract their dangers. After an unsuccessful attempt to fight, flee, or freeze, a dog may try to “appease” by performing submissive or distracting behaviors.

Common Reasons a Dog Might Growl: A Fight Response in the Ladder of Canine Aggression

A dog might growl due to:

• Possessiveness over food, toys, or other items

• Fright in response to sudden sounds or movements

• Pain or injury

• Lack of consent (e.g., being grabbed, hugged, or restrained)

• Sickness or discomfort, especially in senior dogs

• Being startled during rest

• Feeling threatened or teased

• Territoriality

Never punish a growl!

If your dog growls, this is a signal they are uncomfortable. Instead of punishment, focus on management and modification techniques to address the underlying cause of the growling. Properly managing these situations can help your dog feel safe and respected.

R.E.A.C.T. for Recovery

Retreat to a distance at which your dog stops reacting and you can regain control and focus without force.

Evaluate the situation and note what caused the reaction. What could you have done differently to manage the situation? How will you proceed to modify the response?

Adjust your training plan to your canine and family’s needs. Start by giving your dog more distance, shorter duration of exposure, or lower intensity of exposure.

Communicate and celebrate with rewards to your canine for behaviors that you prefer, like, and love. Encourage ideal, replacement behaviors like looking instead of lunging or barking.

Train and treat your dog without the use of force or pain. Reward your dog with praise and treats for target behaviors. Be sure to use rewards that your dog determines are best.