Reactive vs. Aggressive: Understanding the Difference
Welcome back to the Trainer Testimonies blog, where we explore various aspects of dog behaviour and training. Today we are exploring “Reactive vs. Aggressive”, because the language we use matters. Before you continue it is important to note that aggression is a serious behavioural issue, any advice, techniques, or protocols should be directed by a trained professional IN PERSON, not online. This post is intended purely as generalized information and should not be taken as training advice.
Defining Reactive and Aggressive:
To start, let's clarify the definitions of these terms according to the dictionary:
Reactive: [Dictionary Definition] Reacting to a stimulus or situation, especially in a quick or exaggerated manner.
Aggressive: [Dictionary Definition] Ready or likely to attack or confront
Lets Break That Down:
“Reactive” is referring to a dogs response but makes no mention of the intention behind that response. Dogs can be loud, scary, and/or out of control for a host of reasons as outlined in our previous blog post “Reactive” Is a Useless Term.
“Aggressive” is referring, mostly, to a dogs intent. They will cause harm if given the opportunity.
The key here is that while most (not all) aggressive dogs are reactive, many reactive dogs are not aggressive.
Why Does It Matter What We Call It?
There are many reasons why I’m picky about the terms we used to describe these behavioural issues. Firstly it helps trainers communicate with dog owners better. But more importantly, describing a dog as aggressive brings a lot of baggage with the label, and rightfully so.
Any trainer who has worked with reactivity and aggression will tell you about the stark difference between when the owner holds the leash and when the trainer does. Often the owner’s anxiety and fear over their dog’s reaction causes that reaction to be much worse, while a trainer who sees this behaviour every day can break the cycle of fear and easily guides this dog through a situation that would have previously caused a serious issue.
I have received many calls about an “aggressive” dog. I prepare for the worst but upon seeing the dog I can tell there is no intent, no desire to cause harm. Many of these situations are greatly changed by convincing the owner that their dog is not aggressive, they have Scary Dog Syndrome (SDS). That owner now has the confidence that their dog is not unfixable, in fact, they don’t need any fixing or huge behavioural modification, they simply need proper communication and motivation to listen.
With this small change in mindset, the dog makes huge progress quickly, simply by changing the label.
Moving Forward:
Accurate terms matter because it changes the humans perspective. By using the right terminology we can choose the best route for our training instead of treating all “scary” behaviour the same. For a deeper dive on reactivity check out my blog posts on reactivity as this is a topic with many moving parts.
Aggression on the other hand should be approached by a professional trainer in person. Broad training advice is dangerous so I won’t give it. With that said proper management can help, having a trainer work with you on introducing a muzzle, crate, and/or “place” command can help move you in the right direction and take a lot of the actual danger out of the situation.
Understanding the difference between reactive and aggressive behaviour is vital for both owners and trainers. Focus on the definitions, aggression involves intent to harm while reactive is simply a response, an action. By having clear terms we can not only help owners understand the challenges they face better but also improve the training industry as a whole by having clear communication between trainers.
I hope this post has brought clarity and as always let me know what you think.
