Genetics vs Environment in Reactivity
Reactivity is rarely caused by just one thing. In most dogs, it is shaped by a combination of genetics, early life experiences, learning, stress, and sometimes pain.
REACTIVITY: Early Stress Signals Owners Miss
The biggest reactions usually do not start with barking. They start with much smaller body-language signals that many owners miss the first few times.
Why Dogs React More on the Lead
Fear vs Frustration Reactivity
Reactive behaviour is not one single thing. Two dogs can bark and lunge for very different reasons: one because they are scared, and one because they are frustrated. In behavioural science, these are often described as defensive (fear-driven) versus appetitive or goal-blocked (frustration-driven) responses, and they are associated with different emotional and physiological states (Mills, 2005; Sherman & Mills, 2008).