Reactivity in Dogs Part Two: Identifying Stress

"Reactivity" is a blanket term that covers many different behaviours and experiences, but loosely describes a heightened response to a scenario or stimuli which causes stress.

In reality two dogs, responding to the same stimuli, might present in very different ways (based on their past experiences, breeding, personality types etc) but both are "reactive" to the situation at hand.

Some physical signs of low level stress reactivity or anxiety include...

- Rhythmic puffing of their cheeks (making a puh-puh-puh mouth shape)

- Tail tucked under, or held alert

- A raised paw and dipped head or curved spine.

- A wide mouthed yawn, sometimes accompanied by a vocal squeak.

At this point our canine companions are asking for assistance, guidance or attempting to self regulate their stress.

As their discomfort escalates, we might begin to see more overt physical manifestations of their emotional state...

- Raised hackles (the strip of coat along the lower spine stands to attention, giving the appearance of the fur having darkened)

- Visible whites of the eye (tension in the brow and ears pulls the surrounding skin, revealing more of the eye itself)

- Lip curl or bared teeth (this might be accompanied by a low growl, and acts as a warning that the dog is considering defensive action against the cause of their stress)

This list is by no means exhaustive, and breed physicality can have a large impact on our ability to read these postures in our dogs. For example, hound breeds such as whippets or greyhounds will tend to tuck their tail under and show a pronounced, hunched posture when stressed or anxious. Their distant bull breed cousins lack the physical flexibility and tail shape to do this effectively and changes in their posture might be more difficult to read as a result.

Further to this, dogs who have been raised in oppressive environments commonly come to associate fear or stress with punishment. They have learned that expressing their emotional state provokes violence or aggression from their owner and, over time, learn to suppress the physical signs of stress as a result. Breeds from fighting backgrounds have gained a reputation for unprovoked aggression, when in reality they have simply inherited generation upon generation of learned behaviours in response to violence from humans. The dog themselves may never have directly experienced violence, but are hyper alert to the possibility because of the example shown by their parents or grandparent’s. Similarly, dogs who experience pregnancy and/or give birth in stressful environments have been shown to pass a chemical predisposition for stress on to their offspring. Because of this, the puppies may not experience or display stress in the same way as their peers.

Whatever the case, The more familiar we are with our dog's individual experience of stress (and the physical signs we can rely on to gauge their mood) the better equipped we are to de-escalate their reactions.

When working with my behaviour clients, the first step is always a period of observation and conversation to fully understand the emotional state of the dogs I am coaching. This allows me to facilitate their needs more effectively and build a secure, trusting relationship. Though this might sound time consuming, training and coaching are always more effective (and generally more enjoyable for everyone involved) when approached with an understanding of the dog as an individual.

So. What are the some of the most common scenarios where dogs experience reactivity?

REACTIVITY IN CLINICAL ENVIRONMENTS

Vet check, grooming appointments- neither has to be stressful if we get our dog's consent at every step of the process. It's time consuming, and not something that many vets or groomers can facilitate within a set appointment, but we can work outside of the clinical environment to help our dogs feel more secure and prepare them to tackle these experiences confidently. Once your dog fully understands what we need from them in these environments (ie a groomer may need to hold your dog’s head in order to groom their face) and the treatment they will get in return (ie, the groomer will not hurt them), they will find the experience much less stressful.

SOCIAL REACTIVITY

Reactivity is generally fear based and strongly associated with the "fight or flight" experience. We commonly see reactivity in our canine friends when they are placed in situations which breach their boundaries if they feel unable to physically remove themselves from the situation. Unable to walk away and uncomfortable with their surroundings the only option left to them is to lash out. It is completely natural, and something many of us humans can relate to. Through coaching, we can learn to acknowledge when our dog is feeling overwhelmed and support them to take space before socialisation escalates into a confrontation.

TOUCH SENSITIVITY

Sadly, not all dogs get the start in life they deserve. An incident which provokes lasting emotional trauma may also leave your dog with physical sensitivity. It’s not uncommon for dogs who experience physical altercations as a puppy to go on to have a fear of being approached or touched in later life. This kind of reactivity can be the underlying cause or a contributing factor in both social and clinical reactivity. It can be addressed by encouraging positive associations to being held or touched though it is a process best undertaken with patience, sensitivity and care.

In this, as with all my writing on reactivity. I’ve tried to steer away from definitive answers or definitions. Every dog (and every human) is a reflection of breeding, environment, experience and personality. Behaviour is affected by countless factors every day from sleep cycles to diet to hormonal changes and we can’t judge one dog by another’s actions.

If you’d like to discuss any of the points raised in our blogs, we offer free video call appointment service. If our methods aren’t for you, there’s no pressure or obligation to continue. But if behaviour coaching feels like the right step for you and your dog, we’ll work together to create a training plan that’s unique to you.