Labelling Dogs
We want to emphasise the importance of not jumping to conclusions or labelling our furry friends. These labels can be disheartening for pawrents and often, they can be completely inaccurate!
So let’s get into it and talk about “Reactive” Dogs:
When dogs react, they are responding to their environment, and to triggers that often go unnoticed by us humans. There’s always a reason behind these reactions, sometimes a reason we don’t even realise exists or takes us a fair bit of digging to find.
Take our own Eric, for example. He’s been labeled as reactive by people, but the truth is he has a traumatic past that most people are unaware of. It’s taken plenty of careful work to get him to the place he is today and we couldn’t be prouder of him! We recently had a passing comment of “gee he’s not a good dog,” and it hit hard.. his biggest trigger spooked both of us and we were unprepared in the moment, hence his outburst of response..
Eric’s triggers are few and far between thankfully, but now that we know them, usually we can recognise them easily as they approach and begin the management strategies to be able to change his perceptions and reactions. If we are spooked like the recent incident, we have coping and recovery plans that we jump to instead! Now we know that we may be spooked again in the same environment, so we have adapted our routine there to avoid it as best as possible!
The reality is many dogs that are labelled as bad, naughty or out of control are not bad dogs at all… they’re simply misunderstood. Sometimes, pawrents are given outdated or incorrect advice that only adds to the confusion and disheartening feeling.
Understanding the Bigger Picture is Vital!
Every dog comes with a past, more so with our rescue dogs and that past shapes their behaviour. Some dogs are lucky enough to have a wonderful background, raised in ideal conditions from the start. Others, however, may have experienced trauma, negative associations, genetic factors or were simply not set up to thrive in the first place. These are the babes with big feelings that we love!
As pawrents and trainers it’s crucial to look beyond the behaviour and dig deeper into the why behind it. Rather than jumping to conclusions, we need to look at the bigger picture understanding the causes, the triggers, and the needs of our poochies.
Common Underlying Causes of Reactivity
Pain: A dog in pain might react defensively, even if they’re typically calm. Dogs are stoic creatures, rarely showing the true depths of their pain until they absolutely have to.
Past Trauma: Dogs with a history of negative experiences often show reactivity as a coping mechanism.
Trigger Stacks: A series of small stressors or triggers that build up and cause the outburst, which is simply a response from being overwhelmed.
The Dangers of Mislabelling and Misinformation
Unfortunately, with the overwhelming amount of information available, it can be difficult to filter out misinformation and outdated content, making it challenging to find reliable resources.
To truly break the stigma of the labels attached to these dogs, we need to focus on seeking out professionals who hold the proper certifications, which align with the principles of Fear-Free, Force-Free, and Positive Reinforcement methods, and are committed to ongoing education.
Overall, we really want to highlight by recognising that dogs with big emotions and feelings, are not bad dogs, but simply misunderstood, we can help shift the narrative and create a more compassionate approach within the world of dogs!
It’s important to keep an open mind, seek out the right resources, and always be willing to learn. Let’s work together to break the stigma surrounding these babes and offer them the understanding and care they truly deserve!