1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Dog Reactivity

Dog Reactivity Guides

Discover expert advice on managing and addressing dog reactivity issues in various situations, with practical tips and insights shared on Sniffspot's informative blog.

Rottweiler Aggression: Signs, Causes, and How to Handle It thumbnail

Rottweiler Aggression: Signs, Causes, and How to Handle It

Many dog breeds have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being dangerous. Rottweilers are among them — as a large working breed, they’re often thought of as aggressive.

Read more

Dog Reactivity Chart: Understand and Fix Dog Reactivity thumbnail

Dog Reactivity Chart: Understand and Fix Dog Reactivity

Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.

Read more

How to Socialize Your Reactive Dog thumbnail

How to Socialize Your Reactive Dog

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Read more

Definitive Guide: What is Dog Reactivity? thumbnail

Definitive Guide: What is Dog Reactivity?

Read more

The 9 Best Online Communities for Reactive Dog Parents thumbnail

The 9 Best Online Communities for Reactive Dog Parents

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Read more

How To Groom a Reactive Dog thumbnail

How To Groom a Reactive Dog

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Read more

Most recent dog reactivity guides

How To Stop Your Dog From Biting thumbnail

How To Stop Your Dog From Biting

Definitive Guide: What is Dog Reactivity? thumbnail

Definitive Guide: What is Dog Reactivity?

When and How To Think About Medication For Anxious Dogs thumbnail

When and How To Think About Medication For Anxious Dogs

How To Groom a Reactive Dog thumbnail

How To Groom a Reactive Dog

How To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life thumbnail

How To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life

What Does Your Dog Barking Mean? thumbnail

What Does Your Dog Barking Mean?

When and How to do Muzzle Training with Your Dog thumbnail

When and How to do Muzzle Training with Your Dog

Overview of Counterconditioning for Reactive Dogs thumbnail

Overview of Counterconditioning for Reactive Dogs

Dog Anxiety Signs and How to Help Your Pup Feel Better thumbnail

Dog Anxiety Signs and How to Help Your Pup Feel Better

How to Understand and Fix Dog Leash Reactivity thumbnail

How to Understand and Fix Dog Leash Reactivity

9 Unusual Enrichment Ideas for Reactive Dogs thumbnail

9 Unusual Enrichment Ideas for Reactive Dogs

Guide to Fear Aggression in Dogs thumbnail

Guide to Fear Aggression in Dogs

The 9 Best Online Communities for Reactive Dog Parents thumbnail

The 9 Best Online Communities for Reactive Dog Parents

How to Socialize Your Reactive Dog thumbnail

How to Socialize Your Reactive Dog

Dog Reactivity Chart: Understand and Fix Dog Reactivity thumbnail

Dog Reactivity Chart: Understand and Fix Dog Reactivity

Why Dogs Growl and How to Address Your Pup’s Vocalizations thumbnail

Why Dogs Growl and How to Address Your Pup’s Vocalizations

German Shepherd Aggression: 101 Guide thumbnail

German Shepherd Aggression: 101 Guide

Rottweiler Aggression: Signs, Causes, and How to Handle It thumbnail

Rottweiler Aggression: Signs, Causes, and How to Handle It

How to Treat Phobias in Dogs thumbnail

How to Treat Phobias in Dogs

Where Can You Bring Your Reactive Dog? thumbnail

Where Can You Bring Your Reactive Dog?

How to Treat Puppy Leash Aggression thumbnail

How to Treat Puppy Leash Aggression

Most recent dog reactivity guides

How To Stop Your Dog From Biting thumbnail

How To Stop Your Dog From Biting

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Definitive Guide: What is Dog Reactivity? thumbnail

Definitive Guide: What is Dog Reactivity?

When and How To Think About Medication For Anxious Dogs thumbnail

When and How To Think About Medication For Anxious Dogs

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Have you ever thought about putting your anxious dog on medication? You’re not alone. Many people turn to medication if their dog is not responsive to other behavioral remedies. Here’s a guide to when and how to think about medication for your anxious dog.

How To Groom a Reactive Dog thumbnail

How To Groom a Reactive Dog

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

How To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life thumbnail

How To Enable a Reactive Dog To Live A Full Life

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Are you concerned that your reactive dog won’t be able to live life to the fullest? People with reactive dogs sometimes feel discouraged or that they cannot give their dog a full life, but don’t worry! In this article, we will go over how to lead a full and happy life with your reactive dog, including self-care, managing your dog’s environment, and tips for having fun with your dog. Reactivity is common, and with some creativity and problem-solving skills, you and your dog can still have a great time together!

An important note: make sure to have a qualified trainer evaluate your dog before engaging in any new activities that have the potential to be harmful to your dog or anyone else (e.g. off leash play). You can definitely manage your dog’s environment and your own self-care, but it’s important to get a trainer involved when you have a reactive dog.

What Does Your Dog Barking Mean? thumbnail

What Does Your Dog Barking Mean?

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

When and How to do Muzzle Training with Your Dog thumbnail

When and How to do Muzzle Training with Your Dog

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

You’ve probably seen a dog wearing a muzzle at some point, but you might be confused as to what exactly the purpose of muzzles is, and whether it’s humane for a dog to wear them. When and why should a dog wear a muzzle?

Overview of Counterconditioning for Reactive Dogs thumbnail

Overview of Counterconditioning for Reactive Dogs

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Do you have, or know, a
reactive dog? A reactive dog is a dog that overreacts to certain situations or stimuli. This often looks like lunging, growling, or excessive barking. There are some common triggers that dogs may be reactive to, including other dogs, tall people, loud noises like skateboards, and so forth.

Dog Anxiety Signs and How to Help Your Pup Feel Better thumbnail

Dog Anxiety Signs and How to Help Your Pup Feel Better

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

How to Understand and Fix Dog Leash Reactivity thumbnail

How to Understand and Fix Dog Leash Reactivity

You're out on a walk with your furry best friend after a long day of work. It's one of your favorite times of the evening — we've all had visions of classic neighborhood strolls alongside our canine companions!

9 Unusual Enrichment Ideas for Reactive Dogs thumbnail

9 Unusual Enrichment Ideas for Reactive Dogs

Many folks in the Sniffspot community are looking for more enrichment options for reactive pups. We did some research to find the most interesting enrichment options for reactive dogs by 1) asking reactive dog owners in the area, and 2) asking some local trainers for input to make sure these are the highest quality options for you (see the end of the article for more information on the trainers that reviewed this article). 

Guide to Fear Aggression in Dogs thumbnail

Guide to Fear Aggression in Dogs

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

The 9 Best Online Communities for Reactive Dog Parents thumbnail

The 9 Best Online Communities for Reactive Dog Parents

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

How to Socialize Your Reactive Dog thumbnail

How to Socialize Your Reactive Dog

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Dog Reactivity Chart: Understand and Fix Dog Reactivity thumbnail

Dog Reactivity Chart: Understand and Fix Dog Reactivity

Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.

Why Dogs Growl and How to Address Your Pup’s Vocalizations thumbnail

Why Dogs Growl and How to Address Your Pup’s Vocalizations

German Shepherd Aggression: 101 Guide thumbnail

German Shepherd Aggression: 101 Guide

Many dog breeds have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being dangerous. German Shepherds are among them — as a large working breed associated with military and police work, they’re often thought of as aggressive. But are they really?

Rottweiler Aggression: Signs, Causes, and How to Handle It thumbnail

Rottweiler Aggression: Signs, Causes, and How to Handle It

Many dog breeds have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being dangerous. Rottweilers are among them — as a large working breed, they’re often thought of as aggressive.

How to Treat Phobias in Dogs thumbnail

How to Treat Phobias in Dogs

Can dogs experience phobias like humans do? The answer is yes — and these intense, persistent excessive fears can make life difficult for both pets and their people.

Where Can You Bring Your Reactive Dog? thumbnail

Where Can You Bring Your Reactive Dog?

If you live with a reactive dog, you know it can be tough to plan adventures. You and your pup absolutely still deserve to get out of the house and explore the world around you! But how do you know what the environment will be like? What if you encounter out-of-control off-leash dogs? Or startling noises? Or something else you can't prepare for that results in reactive behavior from your canine companion?

How to Treat Puppy Leash Aggression thumbnail

How to Treat Puppy Leash Aggression

Aggression is usually rare in puppies — but some dogs can start displaying reactivity at a young age. If you're worried about puppy leash aggression or think your family's new addition might be leash reactive, you've come to the right place.

Top dog guides per area

Dog training guides

Dog enrichment guides

Sniffspot community guides

The State of Public Dog Parks Across the United States thumbnail

The State of Public Dog Parks Across the United States

From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.

How This Family is Affording Their Dream Property Through Renting it Hourly to Dogs thumbnail

How This Family is Affording Their Dream Property Through Renting it Hourly to Dogs

Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.” 

Host Tips: Ellen K. What Makes Sniffspot Successful for Me thumbnail

Host Tips: Ellen K. What Makes Sniffspot Successful for Me

Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.

How this Oregon Farmer is Making a Business From Renting Her Land to Dogs thumbnail

How this Oregon Farmer is Making a Business From Renting Her Land to Dogs

Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.  

Host Tips: Fran T. Providing Great Guest Service at our Spot thumbnail

Host Tips: Fran T. Providing Great Guest Service at our Spot

Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.

Top dog trainers in the US

The Best Dog Trainers in the United States of 2023 thumbnail

The Best Dog Trainers in the United States of 2023

Welcome to the United States Sniffspot top dog trainer list for 2023. This is a list of the top dog trainers in the United States based on votes from the Sniffspot community and the general public. Over 55,000 votes were used in compiling this list. We have only included the top trainers with sufficient votes and the trainers are ordered in terms of the number of votes received. Trainers that tied are ranked in reverse alphabetical order based on first name. All dog trainers on this list are positive reinforcement only, as defined by no force, fear, intimidation, or aversive methods used.

The Best Dog Trainers in New Jersey of 2023 thumbnail

The Best Dog Trainers in New Jersey of 2023

The Best Dog Trainers in Michigan of 2023 thumbnail

The Best Dog Trainers in Michigan of 2023

The Best Dog Trainers in Washington of 2023 thumbnail

The Best Dog Trainers in Washington of 2023

The Best Dog Trainers in Florida of 2023 thumbnail

The Best Dog Trainers in Florida of 2023

City dog parks guides

dog reactivity

It is hard to be a dog in the modern world. Dog's evolved in an environment where they ran free alongside hunter gatherers. They evolved to love, protect and have close social connections. Today humans and their dogs are moving into cities. The urban environment doesn't fit how dogs were evolved. All the strangers, sounds, smells and dangers create an environment where dogs can't get the exercise, enrichment and relaxation they need. As a result we are seeing all kinds of issues gaining prominence in dogs - obesity, depression and reactivity.

Sniffspot is an antidote to many of the problems of the modern city. By providing safe, private spaces for dogs to exercise we allow dogs to just be dogs. Many of our guests have dogs that are struggling with reactivity and use Sniffspot as an escape. So we are highly interested in dog reactivity.

This section of our blog covers all kinds of topics around reactivity, including finding support when you have a reactive dog, different facets of reactivity, how to help your dog with reactivity and more.

Our blog is dedicated to relevant, high quality articles with modern advice aligned with recognized dog experts. We believe in force free training and do not advocate any kind of aversive training.

dog reactivity FAQ

What is dog reactivity?

Dog reactivity refers to a dog's tendency to overreact or display an intense response to certain stimuli, such as other dogs, people, or objects. This behavior can manifest in different ways, including barking, lunging, growling, or even biting.

What causes dog reactivity?

There are various factors that can contribute to dog reactivity, including genetics, socialization, past experiences, and health issues. Lack of socialization during the critical period of a dog's development, traumatic experiences, and pain or discomfort can also play a role.

Can dog reactivity be treated?

Yes, dog reactivity can be treated with proper training and behavior modification techniques. The goal is to help the dog feel more comfortable and less anxious around the triggers that set off their reactivity. Positive reinforcement training, counterconditioning, and medication can all be part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Is dog reactivity a form of aggression?

Dog reactivity is not always a sign of aggression, but it can lead to aggressive behavior if not addressed. Reactive dogs are often anxious or fearful and may lash out if they feel threatened or overwhelmed. It's essential to address dog reactivity early on to prevent aggressive behavior from developing.

Can dog reactivity be prevented?

While some dogs may be predisposed to reactivity due to genetics, early and consistent socialization can help prevent or reduce the severity of dog reactivity. Regular exposure to different people, animals, and environments during the critical period of a dog's development can help them learn to feel safe and comfortable in a variety of situations.

What should I do if my dog is reactive?

If you suspect your dog is reactive, it's important to seek the help of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can assess your dog's behavior and develop a customized treatment plan.