Dogs with Shy, Reactive, Fearful and Aggressive Behavior

Does your dog get into a frenzy when she sees another dog? Will he bark and lunge at bicycles, runners, skateboards, or cars? Growl over her dinner bowl or at family members? Squabble with other dogs in the home? Has your dog bitten a person or another dog?

Perhaps your dog flips out when the delivery truck arrives or when encountering a new noise or object in the home.

Some dogs may hide from other people, objects, or dogs in the house or snap and bite when being brushed or having leashes and harnesses put on.

You may have heard such dogs called shy, reactive, fearful, or aggressive. I call them dogs with Very Big Feelings about things in their world.

As counter-intuitive as it may seem to us, all these types of behaviors, including aggressive-looking behaviors, are based in fear.

Being fearful of something scary, unpleasant, or unknown is an evolutionary default behavior in all living beings (including humans) designed to keep them safe.

These behaviors can be frightening and frustrating for us as well as seem unfixable. Rest assured, we can work together to modify your dog's behavior by changing how she feels about things in her world. 

We start with an Initial In-Person Consultation where we discuss your dog’s behavior and assess safety and management in your home. After we meet I’ll follow up with resources and a training plan proposal customized to your and your dog's needs.

Your dog isn't trying to give you a hard time. Your dog is having a hard time.

Initial consultation: $175

Online sessions are great for very fearful dogs (no need to acclimate to a stranger in the home) and also if you're outside my service area.

1. Remember, we don't get to decide what our dogs find frightening. They do.
2. First, help them feel safe. This means avoiding things that frighten them until we can begin  working together. If your dog is frightened by children going to school during a walk, for instance, walk your dog on a different route or at at different time. Deliberately exposing your dog to something they find frightening will make it worse, and is inhumane.
3. Don't let strangers, including children, reach for your dog or hand-feed them treats. This can create a conflict for a dog, who wants the treat but not to be near the new person, and can lead to a bite. Coach children to wave at your dog and say "Hi, Fido!"
4. Download my free tip sheet, "Understanding Reactive Behavior," here. (You'll be prompted to subscribe to my newsletter and can unsubscribe at any time.)
5. Purchase my on-demand video and find out why dogs have Very Big Feelings and how you can get started helping them. Click here.
6. Work with a credentialed, rewards-based trainer on helping your dog overcome her fears. Read this position paper on recommended training methods by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, which notes “Animals with challenging behavior disorders such as aggression should be treated with effective, compassionate, and humane methods of training, rather than with ‘a heavy hand’. There are no exceptions to this standard.”
7. Remember all the reasons you brought a dog home — companionship, long walks, sofa snuggles, and keep finding ways to enjoy life with your dog.