To Anyone Who’s Had a Tough Day With Their Reactive Dog
If you own a reactive dog, I’ve been there too. My dog, Laika, is reactive, but I don’t talk about it often. I worry about adding to the stigma around shelter dogs, though it shouldn’t matter. Most readers here probably agree that dogs are dogs, no matter where they come from.
The main reason I avoid writing about it is because managing Laika’s reactivity is a constant struggle. There are no quick fixes. Compared to other issues, like resource guarding, which she rarely does anymore, reactivity remains a daily challenge with many ups and downs.
Training a reactive dog is incredibly hard and unpredictable—it’s the toughest issue I’ve faced with Laika, or any dog for that matter. What works one week can fail miserably the next. Laika has made progress, but writing about it feels discouraging. Yet, I get comfort from reading about others’ experiences with reactive dogs, so maybe sharing mine could help someone too. I’ve linked some of my favorite brutally honest dog articles at the end of this post.
I prefer writing about proven solutions and facts, but with reactivity, I don’t have consistent answers. Instead, I offer some encouragement for your bad days with your reactive dog. Remember these three points:
1. You Can’t Control Everything
Life with a reactive dog means sticking to safe routines—walking at specific times and visiting familiar places. Despite your best efforts, unexpected things can happen. You can’t control irresponsible dog owners or random encounters during your walks.
If your dog reacts unexpectedly, try not to get too disheartened. Sometimes, no matter how much you plan, things go wrong. Don’t blame yourself. We can’t control everything, especially other people’s actions.
2. Don’t Compare Your Dog to Other Dogs
My previous dog, Carter, was the calmest dog ever—completely unbothered by others. Laika, however, is the opposite. I was shocked by her reactivity. She lunges, barks, and struggles with meeting other dogs, unlike any dog I’d had before.
I had to stop comparing Laika to Carter and deal with her specific issues. Not all dogs are the same, even reactive ones. Focus on managing the dog in front of you rather than wishing they were different.
Those are some thoughts to keep in mind. Lastly, here are some honest articles on dog reactivity that I’ve found helpful. I hope sharing this helps anyone struggling with their own reactive dog.
