Dog reactivity is not an accident.......

Puppies aren't born reactive it is learn behaviour

What we are seeing now with dog reactivity is not an accident.

And it is not simply that dogs suddenly have “bad temperaments.”

There has been a huge rise in first-time dog ownership, especially since the COVID years. Many people brought dogs into their lives with the very best intentions, but without years or generations of dog knowledge behind them. So naturally, they turned to social media, online advice, trainers, influencers, and modern dog culture for guidance.

The problem is, a lot of that advice is either misunderstood, oversimplified, or coming from people with very little real understanding of behaviour.

One of the biggest misunderstandings surrounds the phrase:

“Socialise your puppy.”

For many people, that now seems to mean:

• Take the puppy everywhere.

• Let everyone touch them.

• Let them meet every dog.

• Expose them to cafés, parks, shops, busy places and endless interaction as early and as often as possible.

But exposure alone does not create a well-socialised dog. In fact, done badly, it can create the complete opposite.

Many puppies become overwhelmed, over-aroused, frightened, frustrated, or genuinely traumatised by uncontrolled interactions with people and dogs. Some learn the world feels unpredictable. Some learn they need to defend themselves. Others simply shut down and appear to “cope,” when actually they have just become emotionally flooded or desensitised.

Rafferty & Cooper

A dog looking fine is not always a dog feeling safe.

True socialisation is not about the amount of exposure. It is about the quality of the experience.

It is teaching a puppy:

• how to feel safe,

• how to regulate emotion,

• how to cope with frustration,

• how to disengage,

• how to observe calmly,

• how to trust guidance from the owner,

• and importantly, how not to interact with everything they see.

One of the most valuable things a puppy can learn is neutrality, not to react.

The ability to see another dog and not feel the need to rush over.

To see people and remain emotionally steady.

To understand that calm observation is perfectly normal.

Instead .....

Instead, modern dog culture often encourages the opposite, constant stimulation, endless interaction. Puppies being passed around, over handled, overwhelmed in busy parks, flooded with dogs in daycare settings, and taught that every dog is a playmate and every person exists to entertain them.

At the same time, there has also been a growing culture of outsourcing dog ownership itself.

• Dogs are entertained by gadgets.

• Enriched by products.

• Exercised by dog walkers.

• Socialised by daycare.

And whilst those things absolutely can have their place in the right situations, none of them replace relationship, guidance, calm leadership, and genuine involvement from the owner.

Dogs do not just need stimulation.

• They need emotional security.

• They need direction.

• They need calm nervous systems around them.

So much modern advice focuses on keeping dogs busy, tired, occupied, enriched, fulfilled.

But very little attention is given to teaching dogs how to be calm, how to tolerate boredom, how to switch off, settle, or simply exist peacefully alongside human life, their most natural state if allowed to.

Reactivity is often not created through cruelty or neglect.

Very often it is created through confusion, overstimulation, inconsistency, emotional overload, and misunderstood kindness.

Most people are trying incredibly hard to do the right thing.

But good intentions without understanding can still create problems.

We do not need dogs exposed to more.

We need dogs guided better.

If you would like to learn a calmer version of this email or whatsapp me for a free copy of the Calm Home Fact Sheet

avril@thedogacalmer.com +447505277374