What to do with a Reactive Dog: A Research Guide for Change

What should I do if my dog is reactive? Start by identifying your dog’s triggers and giving them safe space. Then use controlled setups with desensitization, counterconditioning, and rewards to gradually build calmer responses.

Living with a reactive dog can feel overwhelming, confusing, and isolating. You want to help, but nothing seems to stick. You’ve probably heard conflicting advice, some of it harsh, some of it vague. And yet, behind the barking, lunging, or growling is a dog who’s struggling to cope.

The good news? You can help your dog, and this guide will show you how.

This article walks you through research-supported strategies to help your reactive dog build calmer responses and regain confidence. Whether your dog reacts to other dogs, strangers, cars, or sounds, these steps will help you take action grounded in science, not guesswork.

Reactivity is an exaggerated emotional response to triggers that most dogs would ignore or recover from quickly. This may look like barking, lunging, growling, or spinning, and they are often rooted in fear, frustration, or anxiety.

Reactive behaviors often arise from underlying emotional conflict, and are highly modifiable with the right approach. Fear-related behaviors in dogs are not fixed; in fact, studies show that emotional reactivity can worsen without support, or improve with targeted interventions (Riemer, 2019).

One of the most effective ways to change reactive behavior is through systematic desensitization and counterconditioning. These two techniques work together to:

• Lower your dog’s stress around triggers
• Change the emotional response from “uh-oh” to “I’m okay”
• Build a new, calmer pattern over time

In a structured trial, researchers found that four weeks of desensitization and counterconditioning significantly reduced fear responses in dogs during vet visits (Stellato et al., 2019).

To use this technique with your reactive dog:

• Start far enough away from their trigger that your dog notices but doesn’t explode.
• As soon as they notice the trigger, give high-value rewards (before any reaction). Note that a reward is anything your dog LOVES, like treats, toys, or praise.
• If they react, it means you are too close. Move further away from the trigger and try again later, after they have calmed down.
• End the session before your dog gets overwhelmed.
• Repeat as often as you can.

Progress takes time. But this method is proven effective and respectful of your dog’s limits.

If someone tells you to "correct" your reactive dog with a leash pop, prong collar, or shock, they’re giving outdated, harmful advice.

A 2020 systematic review found that reward-based training leads to better behavior and welfare outcomes than aversive methods. Punishment can increase fear, aggression, and stress, and reduce your dog’s trust in you (de Castro et al., 2020).

Bottom line: You can’t punish away fear. Use positive reinforcement to build confidence instead.

Dogs with poor impulse control are more likely to react explosively. A 2022 study found a strong link between low self-control (measured through delay-of-gratification tests) and increased aggression and reactivity (Gobbo et al., 2022).

Building impulse control doesn't require harsh methods. It’s a skill your dog can learn through play and practice.

Helpful impulse-control games:

• "Find it" with scattered treats
• Treat toss and wait
• Pattern games (like 1-2-3 Treat or Up-Down)
• Look-at-me cues like "watch" or "focus"

Even training your dog to "wait" at the door while you open it before going outside builds impulse control. These help create a more flexible, emotionally regulated dog, especially around triggers.

Effective reactive dog training is never one-size-fits-all. A 2023 thesis review emphasized that successful interventions require:

• Individualized strategies
• Evidence-based methods
• Collaboration between the dog owner and trainer
  (Doane, 2023)

A good plan doesn’t just reduce barking. It helps your dog feel safer, respond better, and recover faster. That means:

• Planning your environment
• Prepping for known triggers
• Reinforcing desired behaviors before reactivity starts
• Gradually increasing difficulty when your dog is ready
   

A 2023 study on reactive dog ownership found that many owners experience:

• Stress, guilt, and frustration
• Avoidance of public places
• Social judgment from other dog owners
  (Hart & King, 2023)

This isn’t talked about enough. But you deserve support too.

You’re not alone. Find a community, even online, that understands what you’re going through. Make space to celebrate small wins. And choose trainers who treat both you and your dog with compassion.

Your reactive dog isn’t broken. They’re communicating in the only way they know how. With consistent, science-backed methods and genuine understanding, you can help them feel safer and behave differently.

At Reactive Dog Reset, our course is built on these exact principles: counterconditioning, positive reinforcement, impulse control, health, and the emotional needs of both dogs and their humans. If you're ready to move from overwhelmed to empowered, we’re here to help with our online course.

Doane, M. (2023). Evaluation of evidence-based methods to reduce anxiety and aggression in domestic dogs: A systematic review [Bachelor's thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences]. SLU Epsilon. https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/19331/1/Doane_M_230810.pdf

de Castro, A. C. V., Fuchs, D., Morello, G. M., Pastur, S., de Sousa, L., & Olsson, I. A. S. (2020). Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PLOS ONE, 15(12), e0225023. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225023

Gobbo, E., Stolarz, K., Buresova, E., & Fatjó, J. (2022). Aggressive behavior and inhibitory control in domestic dogs: An experimental study. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, Article 869068. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.869068

Hart, A., & King, T. (2023). "It’s okay, he’s friendly": Understanding the experience of owning and walking a reactive dog using a qualitative online survey. Society & Animals, Advance online publication. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376437451

Riemer, S. (2019). Not a one‑way road—Severity, progression and prevention of firework fears in dogs. PLOS ONE, 14(9), e0222628. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222628

Stellato, A., Jajou, S., Dewey, C., Widowski, T., & Niel, L. (2019). Effect of a standardized four‑week desensitization and counter-conditioning training program on veterinary fear in companion dogs. Animals, 9(10), 767. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100767

Author Bio

Shawna Baskette is a Canadian-born dog behavior educator with over 20 years of professional research experience and a specialty focus on reactivity. She studies peer-reviewed canine behavior literature, translates evidence into practical steps, and founded The Dog Library and Reactive Dog Reset to help dogs and owners reach calmer lives together.

Interested in learning what inspired me to develop the Reactive Dog Reset? Then your next read should be Beyond K9 Obedience: Why I Created the Reactive Dog Reset.