Why do dogs react? Barking, biting and the bits in-between
- Rachel
- Mar 27
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Rachel Burn, expert dog trainer and owner of Poppets Dog Training, tells you why dogs react and what they’re really telling you.
When you imagined life with your dog, them reacting with barking or biting would never have been part of the plan.
But if your dog reacts to other dogs or people, it can be stressful and leave you feeling embarrassed and isolated. You can be left asking, “What have I done wrong and what can I do?”
I have decades of experience in force-free reward-based training and I’m an accredited member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). I’ve seen and worked with countless owners who’ve needed help with this.
There’s no judgement here, just clear advice to help.
I was interviewed recently about my work at Poppets Dog Training helping reactive dogs and their owners.
Read on to find out what you need to know about why dogs react. With a fresh understanding, you’ll be in a position to see real behaviour change in your dog.
Take a walk with me…
What’s meant by “reacting” and a “reactive dog?”
Like you and me, dogs always respond to their environment. This is normal, so it’s important to understand what we mean by a “dog who reacts” or a “reactive dog.”
The reactions we’re talking about are lunging, growling, barking, crying, snapping, or biting towards another object. Generally, the behaviour is directed towards people or other dogs and can be unpredictable.
A useful definition is a dog responding to a stimulus (regularly) with an abnormal/ excessive reaction, leading to behaviours like growling, barking and lunging.
This behaviour is different to your dog excitedly barking and jumping up when they see you or hear a knock at the door, even though you may also use training methods to support these behaviours.
Is there confusion about what is meant by a “reactive dog?”
Yes, there is. The confusion comes from an owner’s perception of what we mean by reactivity. Here are two examples:
1. Sometimes I’m contacted by owners saying their dog is reactive to people coming to the house or knocking at the door. This is a dog’s excitement spilling over into barking or jumping. Think about it… you might also jump up from the sofa if you’re excited, but you just won’t bark in the same way.
We can use reward-based training to shape this behaviour but it’s not the reactivity we’re talking about here.
2. I’m also contacted about “snappy” or “yappy” dogs. Remember, dogs want to talk and communicate - there's a reason why they're wonderful company. Imagine a smaller dog meeting a larger dog on a walk and both want to connect and play. The smaller dog may bark and try to make contact with the dog if they can’t keep up… little legs and all that! They’ll talk, often loudly, before playing together and having a great time.
Again, we can train, reward and shape “calmer” interactions but we can’t stop a dog communicating and wanting to connect. We wouldn’t want to! It just helps to know what you’re working with.
What triggers unwanted reactions in dogs?
It’s very rare for aggression to be the root cause of a dog reacting, even if it appears like this at the time. At their core, reactions come from fear, anxiety, or frustration.
Think about this point for a moment.
Right from the start, you’ll see why aversive fear-based methods of behaviour control won’t have a lasting impact. These training methods do the opposite and create more fear… and the potential for more reactions.
Any intervention needs to change the story, which is why best practice dog training will always be force-free and reward-based.
So, where do triggers for a dog’s reaction come from?
Your dog’s behaviour always comes back to motivation and what they need in a situation.
If they’re scared, they’ll want safety.
If they’re anxious, they’ll want a sense of control.
If they’re frustrated, they’ll want to remove barriers.
Could you imagine these principles fitting into a similar article about children’s (or adult’s) behaviour? It’s a helpful comparison as it moves trainers and owners towards understanding and care.
Can you give examples of when a dog might react?
Triggers are based on a dog’s history, and how their past experiences relate to what’s happening in the present.
Let’s look at some examples:
Frustration
In a social situation, dogs may react through frustration if their lead is stopping them getting what they want or need.
Need: They’re motivated here by attention and interaction.
Anxiety
If they’re unsure how to greet appropriately, or the size of the other dog/person is intimidating, they’ll feel anxiety. Barking is a way to communicate they’re not happy with the situation. If the other dog reacts to this, the anxiety may be increased.
Need: They’re motivated by a sense of control to reduce anxiety.
Fear
If a dog has previously been bitten, threatened, experienced danger, or hit, fear may may be their learned protective response. Barking is a way to try and keep another dog or person at a safe distance.
Need: They’re motivated by safety and trying to keep a distance from danger.
How will I know what is causing the reaction in my dog?
You’ll know your dog better than anyone else, and over time your awareness will grow.
Firstly, observe and take note so you can spot patterns.
If you’re picking up your dog for the first time, find out as much about its past and family history. You’ll enjoy looking at our blog post, “Visiting a dog owner or breeder - Confidence to find out what you need to know.”
And if you’re taking on a rescue dog, get ready for a rewarding (and challenging) journey, where you’ll have a key role to play in supporting possible triggers. Again, you’ll enjoy our blog post, “How a troubled rescue dog inspired Poppets Dog Training.”
Does aggression cause dogs to react?
It would be rare to see a truly aggressive dog that doesn’t have a base for its behaviour in one of the above: frustration, anxiety, or fear.
Remember, a dog’s motivation is always linked to what they need. The best care for a reactive dog and the most effective dog training must focus on meeting this need, consistently:
Certainty of attention and healthy interaction will make your dog content and reduce frustration.
Consistency and practice (with you as the anchor point) in social situations teaches them to regulate their anxiety.
Safety, more safety, and even more safety will avoid fear, or begin to remove it if they’ve learned to react in this way.
What about biting? Why do some dogs bite?
Dogs will bite as a last resort if they are experiencing significant stress.
There’s a really useful resource on the PDSA website, describing your dog’s ladder of communication.
You can begin to observe, read and track your pet’s stress levels, based on the behaviours they might show. They’re telling you something.
Remember, behaviour is about motivation - again, they’re telling you what they need. Yawning, turning their head away, or stiffening up might be tell-tale signs for your dog needing space and rest.
It makes sense, doesn't it? While I’m not known to bite, I’m sure I’m not alone in not-so-subtly communicating my stress by seeking some alone time or giving the odd growl. Dogs are telling us about the same thing with their reactions.
From Rachel, Owner of Poppets Dog Training
It may feel like it, but the behaviour changes you and your dog are after are not too far away.
Being able to help a reactive dog always comes from understanding what their behaviour is telling us. When we know a dog reacting to deeper needs, we can begin meeting those needs with consistency and care in training.
When you work with me at Poppets Dog Training, you’ll benefit from our approach to supporting both your dog and you as the owner. Your confidence to make the difference is as important as anything I do or say.
To help you understand how we work, read our case study about a family who worked with Poppets Dog Training to support them and their reactive dog.
Next steps?
After finding out about at the “why” behind reactivity in dogs, read the next part of the interview. Here, we get even more practical, and I show you how reward-based training helps your dog to stop reacting.
Do you have questions about Poppets Dog Training and what we're doing across Nuneaton and Warwickshire... or just need a bit of help?
Get in touch - I’d love to meet you and your four-legged friend.#
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