Understanding Reactive Behaviour In Dogs

Reactivity doesn't come out of nowhere.

There are many signs that our dog is becoming overwhelmed. If we watch those signs and get our dogs the space they need, we help them to feel safe.

Feeling safe is the first step to avoiding and recovering from reactive behaviour.

We work out the way our dogs feel by observing what they do and what changes on the outside to give us the information that something on the inside has changed for them too.

Dogs will always tell us how they feel. Their body language is unmistakable with even the smallest amount of knowledge and observation.

The people who naturally observe their dogs as part of living with them can often tell the feelings of their dogs with no formal education in canine body language.

Sadly though in this world of high distractions where we are rushed as humans onto the next thing and the next dopamine hit, dog's requests and emotional communications can be misread or even not read at all.

To really understand how our dogs feel we need to learn both general dog body language and our own dog's unique way of communicating. Take a look at my ebook here, it will really help you understand your dog. 

We also need to sharpen our own eyes to recognise changes early. We can even look at it like a game.

Let's take a look at some body shapes and facial expressions that we might see.

Canine body language provides lots of insight when we observe it with devotion and understanding.

Dogs have their own personalities and distinctive ways of communicating. However, there are universal signs and signals that reveal how a dog feels, which we can interpret with practice and patience.

Start by studying your dog's neutral state.

Observe how they look when they're calm and not experiencing strong emotions such as fear or excitement. 

Note the position of their ears, the expression in their eyes, and the carriage of their tail. These features often depend on breed traits.

Understanding the Tail

For example, some dogs naturally carry their tails high, while others might have a lower tail set.

A neutral tail can indicate a calm state, while a tail positioned higher than neutral often suggests arousal or interest in the environment.

Conversely, a tail below neutral might signal fear or anxiety.

Think of a tail like a flag — the higher it rises above neutral, the more confident or alert the dog is feeling. Similarly, the further the tail dips below neutral, the more likely the dog is experiencing stress or discomfort.

Reading the Ears

Ears are another key indicator. A dog's ear position changes with their emotions, though the specific movements depend on the dog's natural ear shape. For instance, pricked ears may signal alertness, while ears pulled back often indicate fear or unease.

Even floppy-eared dogs convey similar signals, though their movements might appear subtler, with the ears shifting to the sides or flattening slightly. 

Ear position also correlates with facial tension; a relaxed face with neutral ears typically shows contentment, while ears pulled back might accompany tight lips and a tense expression.

The Whole Body Picture

Posture completes the picture. A neutral posture is loose and relaxed, with no tension in the body. A happy, relaxed dog might appear wiggly, smiling, and generally "soft" from head to tail.

In contrast, a fearful dog may crouch with their tail tucked under, attempting to appear smaller.

Meanwhile, a confrontational dog might puff up, creating an impression of size to ward off potential threats.

The key is to recognise whether the tension stems from fear or assertiveness, as this often dictates whether the dog may choose to flee or engage with the source of their discomfort.

Understanding your dog's unique neutral position is vital, as it serves as a baseline for recognising changes in body language.

While you likely already know how they appear when happy or distressed, refining your awareness of subtler shifts will deepen your understanding.

I have relatively recently adopted a little dog who simply cannot cope with environmental stressors at the moment. I suspect she was very poorly socialised if socialised at all. She's a very sweet little love.

Her name is Darcie.

My point is that I know how hard it is to help your dog in a World that seems to just keep coming at you. 

It's very easy to become stressed ourselves when we can't protect our little dog friend from loose dogs and their people who just don't understand.

Darcie is learning to be confident in general first, she's learning that she can control her space by adapting our walks - but we are lucky enough to have a good woodland nearby.

I know how it feels when it all goes wrong though, how worrying and stressful and even sad it can be.

How we can blame ourselves!

Remember this though, your dog's responses are NOT YOUR FAULT.

Your dog is struggling in a World that worries them. And each time you create safety and/or confidence in them, you are helping to regulate their nervous system. Learn much more about your dog's nervous system here. 

Reactive behaviour is a response to overwhelm.

It's what happens when a dog's nervous system hits overload and they have no other way to cope. It's the barking, the lunging, the snapping at the air. It's the explosion that looks like it came from nowhere but actually had warning signs we missed or couldn't prevent.

Reactivity is communication. It's a dog saying "this is too much, I can't handle this, I need this to stop."

Sometimes it's fear-based. The dog is terrified and trying to make the scary thing go away.

Sometimes it's frustration-based. The dog wants to get to something but can't, and the tension builds until it erupts.

Sometimes it's pain-based. The dog is hurting, their nervous system is already maxed out, and they have no capacity left for managing stressors.

Sometimes it's learned. The dog has discovered that barking and lunging makes the scary thing go away, so they do it more.

But it always, always comes from a place of unrest. 

Reactive behaviour doesn't come out of nowhere. There are always signs.

The problem is that we often miss them until the dog is already over threshold and reacting.

These are the signs to watch for:

• Distance-increasing behaviours: Your dog is trying to create space. They might move away, turn their head, look away, back up, or try to leave the situation entirely.
• Stress signals: Lip licking, yawning, panting (when not hot or tired), ground sniffing that seems out of context, shaking off as if wet when they're dry, scratching when they're not itchy.
• Body tension: The whole body goes stiff. The face tightens. The ears change position. The tail position shifts.
• Staring: Hard eyes, locked onto the trigger, can't look away. This is different from the soft gaze of a relaxed dog.
• Freezing: The dog goes completely still. This isn't calm. This is shut down. This is a dog who's so overwhelmed they can't move.
• Displacement behaviours: Sudden sniffing, scratching, grooming, or other behaviours that seem out of place for the situation. These are coping mechanisms.

If you see these signs and can create space, change direction, or remove your dog from the situation before they react, you're helping them stay under threshold. You're teaching them that you'll protect them. You're building trust.

Healing from reactivity isn't linear.

It's not a steady upward progression where each day is better than the last. It's two steps forward, one step back. Sometimes it's one step forward, three steps back.

But healing is possible. And it starts with safety.

• Creating a safe base: Your dog needs to feel safe at home. They need predictability, routine, choice, and a nervous system that can actually rest. If your dog can't settle at home, they won't be able to cope outside.
• Building confidence through choice: Dogs who have choice and autonomy develop confidence. They learn they have some control over their world. This is crucial for reactive dogs who often feel they have no control at all.
• Working under threshold: Every time your dog practices reactivity, they get better at it. Every time they stay under threshold and manage a situation calmly, they build new neural pathways. Your job is to set them up for success by managing their environment.
• Nervous system regulation: This is the foundation of everything. Reactive dogs live in a state of chronic stress. Their nervous system is constantly activated. Healing means helping them downregulate - through nosework, through rest, through predictable routines, through connection.
• Recognising progress in small signs: Healing doesn't look like a dog who suddenly stops reacting. It looks like a dog who recovers faster after a reaction. A dog who can look at a trigger and look away. A dog who chooses to move away from something uncomfortable rather than barking at it. A dog who sleeps more deeply. A dog who shows you their stress earlier, trusting you'll help.

Darcie is still on her learning journey. She can't cope with environmental stressors yet. But she's learning that I'll keep her safe. She's learning that she can control her space. She's learning that the world doesn't have to feel so overwhelming all the time.

If you have a reactive dog, you already know how hard this is.

You know the weight of the stares from other people when your dog is barking and lunging. You know the exhaustion of managing every single walk, every single encounter, every single trigger.

You know the guilt. The feeling that somehow this is your fault.

Let me be very clear: your dog's reactivity is not your fault.

Your dog is struggling. They're overwhelmed. They're doing the best they can with the nervous system they have and the world they're navigating.

Your job isn't to fix them. Your job is to help them feel safe.

Every time you create distance when they need it, you're helping.

Every time you read their body language and respond before they have to react, you're helping.

Every time you provide them with predictability, routine, choice, and compassion, you're helping.

You are already doing the work. And that work matters.

Reactivity is hard. Recovery is slow. But it is possible.

And you're not alone in it.

Most of my books are written on this very topic - understanding reactive behaviour, helping anxious dogs feel safe, and supporting nervous system regulation. Because I've been there. I've lived with reactive dogs. I've watched them struggle and I've helped them heal.

And I know that with patience, understanding, and the right approach, healing is possible.

Even when the world feels too big.

Join us in Skool For Dog People, where we explore nervous system science, trauma-informed approaches to reactivity, practical management strategies, and the compassionate methods that actually help anxious dogs feel safe.