Is Your Dog Reactive or Aggressive?
Dogs can be incredibly defensive and aggressive depending on their background and their training, but how can you tell if your pet is reactive or aggressive toward others?
Aggression
Aggression in dogs is the active act of attacking. The intent behind aggression is usually for your pet to protect either themselves or you. Aggression sits clearly with biting and physical damage. Your dog also may shove a hand with their muzzle, snap at someone, curl their lip and pin their ears when they're aggressive. These are signs that your dog is in fear for either their life or yours.
Reaction
Dogs that are reactionary also are usually afraid, but they aren't about to attack. Instead, they want to put distance between them and whatever threat is at hand, so they immediately take to lunging, barking, and snapping because they know that will make someone back up. In a reactive dog, this only happens when they feel threatened; they're trying to create safety. This means that there won't be any pinned ears or snarling at all.
The Difference
Both aggression and reaction-based dogs are driven by fear. These dogs are scared of their surroundings, maybe certain people upset them, or certain situations make them skittish. Aggression has the distinct and genuine potential for harm, where reactionary dogs only want to ensure their safety by creating space.
Dogs can be reactive or aggressive, but sometimes it's not easy to pick up which they are. If you're having a hard time with your dog lunging, then it's best to ensure that your dog isn't in fear or pain. Bring them in to see our Vero Beach pet behavior training facility!