Expert Behaviorist Sian Ryan explores the reasons why dogs become reactive and offers tips on how you can enhance their behavior in order to alleviate the immense stress and disturbance that come with living with an aggressive Labrador.
Your Aggressive Labrador
It can be challenging to admit that your Labrador, who is reactive around other dogs or people, does not conform to the sociable and easygoing reputation that Labradors are known for, especially if that’s one of the reasons why you love them.
When asking others to call their unleashed dog away from yours on a leash because your dog doesn’t like other dogs, it can be made more difficult if they don’t believe you. Some people argue that since your dog is a Labrador, they are friendly to everyone, and it’ll be good for their dog to learn from yours by being scolded. Does this situation sound familiar to you?
The Reactive Labrador
It is a fact that some Labradors may exhibit reactive and aggressive behavior at times for various reasons. However, it is normal for dogs to display varying degrees of aggression based on their unique character and life experiences. Similarly, people may also have outbursts or express frustration by slamming doors.
The goal when dealing with aggressive and reactive dogs is not to stifle their aggressive tendencies, but rather to enhance their self-discipline and alleviate the root cause of their reactive behavior by altering their emotional and behavioral reactions to the situations that provoke it. The approach we use to achieve this varies based on the underlying emotions fueling the dog’s reactivity.
Warning Signs of Reactivity in Labradors
Canine social norms are often ritualistic and focused on de-escalating tense situations and preventing conflict, with aggressive actions serving as a final recourse due to the potential for harm. Dogs exhibit clear signs of discomfort early on, including turning away, yawning, nose licking, and enlarged pupils. If the situation doesn’t improve or the dog is unable to move away, these signals may escalate to growling or barking.
If humans dismiss or punish the clear signs from dogs, they may resort to biting or snapping to communicate their message. When smaller cues are ignored, or the trigger is too intense, dogs may respond with behaviors like barking, rushing, or biting.
The handler is responsible for triggering the aggressive behavior depicted in the image. This response appears to be a learned behavior, as can be observed in the relaxed forehead and whisker area, as well as the wide “C” formation of the dog’s mouth. Nonetheless, it is unwise to disregard this warning.
Fear Aggression in Labradors
Fear is the underlying cause of aggressive behavior in this situation, and it is likely the primary motivation. Such fear could stem from a variety of sources, such as an approaching dog or person, the potential consequences of one’s actions, or the perception that harm may occur.
Our approach for minimizing aggressive behavior in dogs involves altering their emotional response to the situation, transitioning them from fear to tolerance, and ultimately reaching a state of enjoyment or positive anticipation. Ensuring appropriate pain management is crucial if the dog is experiencing discomfort.
Reactivity From Frustration
Frustration is often overlooked as a reason for aggression, although it is a common motivation. When a dog is frustrated, it may display fewer indicators of distress at a lower level, but may still exhibit lip or nose licks in situations where conflicting emotions arise, such as when wanting to greet someone but being unable to do so due to a leash or fence.
If your Labrador is displaying a combination of behavior such as jumping at the end of the lead, carrying weight forward, ears pricked, tail up, and barking in a high-pitched tone, then chances are they are a frustrated greeter. In such a scenario, it’s advisable to let them greet other dogs off the lead, where they are likely to behave better. Despite this, however, many frustrated greeters tend to act inappropriately, rushing towards other dogs and ignoring their signals indicating a lack of interest in greeting 30kg of an ebullient Labrador. Due to this, they may end up being bitten or harmed by the dogs they are attempting to bounce on.
Dogs often display frustration as their initial reactive behavior, but can later develop fear-based aggression when reprimanded by other dogs for their social awkwardness. This can create significant emotional turmoil when around other dogs.
In cases when dogs experience intense frustration in the presence of other dogs or when they are unable to obtain desired objects, they may resort to directing their aggression towards readily available targets, such as their lead, nearby individuals or dogs, or whatever toy they can grab. A potential method to handle such situations is to offer an appropriate channel for releasing the dog’s aggression, for instance, by using a tug toy.
What Do You Do About Reactive Dogs?
The primary objective for a reactive dog, to guarantee safety for all, is to steer clear or modify situations that trigger their aggression; this ultimately leads to relaxation, enhances their overall well-being as they no longer feel threatened or stimulated, and prevents them from continually practicing the undesirable behavior.
The neural pathway responsible for aggressive reactions in Labradors is strengthened each time they exhibit such behavior. This makes it more difficult to alter the behavior, as it becomes their default response and may manifest in unrelated situations in the future. When aggression has been generalized in this manner, modifying it becomes a significantly greater challenge.
In the event that your Labrador displays a reaction to other dogs while on a walk, regardless of the underlying reason, attempt to discover different locations with fewer dogs and keep a safe distance by calmly turning around before your dog can react. Alternatively, search for a nearby area like a riding school or dog training center that you may be able to rent for secure walks.
Dog training 101 — How to set realistic goals and where to get started
Kayla Fratt, owner of Journey Dog Training and a certified consultant for dog behavior, claims that her primary goal for every dog is to make it feel at ease with its surroundings and lifestyle, which starts with ensuring that it is comfortable in its own skin.
Training is advantageous for all dogs, regardless of whether you just acquired a puppy from a breeder or have been with your dog for years.
Wondering how to initiate the process? Chances are that you got inundated with the available choices, certifications, and jargon when you searched for “dog trainers near me” on the internet. There is an abundance of data available! Consequently, we approached some specialists to advise on where to commence. Here’s what they suggest:
Identify your training goals
Essentially, dog training can be classified into two levels. For basic manners like teaching your dog to sit, stay and lie down, a dog trainer is the right professional to consult. However, if you need help with a behavior issue such as anxiety, aggressiveness, or fearfulness, then you should seek assistance from a dog behavioral consultant such as Brianna Dick from Pack Leader Help.
“The way that I approach dog training is behavioral psychology based,” says Dick, who is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals. “We’re not looking at just the physical behaviors of dogs. We’re looking at their emotions and the relationship they have with their humans.”
Begin with behavior training if you require training for both skills and behavior. A dog behavior consultant is proficient in teaching your dog how to sit and can handle more complicated concerns such as separation anxiety, which a dog trainer may not be as skilled in.
Be realistic.
Fratt suggests that just as not all humans are inclined to enjoy attending raves, not all dogs will take pleasure in visiting dog parks.
An expert in applied ethology, Kim Brophey is known for her work as a mediator for family dogs and as the owner of The Dog Door Behavior Center. She authored a book named “Meet Your Dog: The Game Changing Guide To Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior,” in which she employs a framework called L.E.G.S (learning, environment, genetics, self) to elucidate dog behavior. For instance, if your guests are being incessantly barked at by your dog, this framework can come in handy.
According to Brophey, it could be a dog breed that has been chosen for centuries to protect against intruders entering your home. As the genetic instinct of German shepherds to safeguard their domain cannot be trained out, it may be necessary to adjust your anticipations.
Decide how you’d like to train your dog.
There are several training methods available, including group classes, one-on-one training, board and train, day training, and self-led training. While group classes are less personalized and cheaper, board and train options are riskier and more expensive, according to Fratt.
“If the trainer spends all this time training the dog in this really specific context and then basically just hands you the leash, takes your check and walks away, there’s a very good chance you’re not actually going to be able to implement those new strategies and skills … successfully in your home.”
Your decision will be influenced by both your financial means and the objectives you wish to achieve through training. For instance, if your dog exhibits aggressive behavior towards another dog inside your residence, it is unlikely that training carried out elsewhere would effectively address the issue.
Keep in mind that your participation in training your dog is necessary, but it doesn’t need to consume a significant amount of your time. According to Fratt, she dedicates around five minutes per day to training. Additionally, the assignments given by trainers can be enjoyable and effortlessly integrated into your daily routine.
Our experts recommend free or affordable online resources for dog training to save you money.
- Kikopup on Youtube and Instagram
- Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
- K9 of Mine
Understand the methodologies.
The field of dog training lacks regulation, allowing anyone who has a website, Instagram page, or storefront to assert themselves as a dog trainer. Consequently, there is no standard guide on the techniques to employ when training dogs, leading to diverging opinions amongst trainers. However, most trainers can be grouped into two overarching categories.
One approach is utilized by trainers such as Fratt who employ positive reinforcement. This involves rewarding your dog with a treat or other favorable item when they exhibit good behavior, encouraging them to continue the behavior. Additionally, it involves providing a positive experience to your dog so they no longer perceive something they may fear as a negative experience.
Another type of trainer, such as Brianna Dick, is a balanced trainer. These trainers make use of positive reinforcement, but are also open to using correcting tools such as e-collars in their training techniques.
According to Dick, E-collar training utilizes a collar that is worn by the dog, which can be remotely controlled to provide a correction by emitting a stimulus such as a citronella spray, shock or sound to the neck of the dog. E-collars have created a rift in the dog training community, particularly those that emit a shock.
According to Dick, trainers who use e-collars on every dog should be approached with caution as it is a standardized approach that typically yields unsatisfactory outcomes. He suggests looking for a trainer who takes the time to understand your unique situation, including your relationship with your dog and lifestyle.
Find a good trainer.
If you’re searching for reputable positive reinforcement or balanced trainers in your locality, a reliable resource to begin with would be lists created by different professional organizations.
