The reactivity in dogs

Reactivity in dogs is quite already a complex and burdensome problem for humans, partly because of glares and judgments, without adding superlatives: hyper-, super-, supra-, etc- reactivity.

The truth is that the word itself is a catch-all.

This term is merely "practical" for visualizing how a dog behaves. It facilitates conversations and limits explanations based on subjective perceptions of the dog's attitude. However, it masks several realities: there isn't just one type of reactivity. Dogs express different motivations.

Reactivity does not refer to a single behavior, nor a type of behavior, but to a set of behaviors. Pulling on the leash, standing on his/her paws, and barking are among the main behaviors that a dog displays.

Still, this says nothing about his/her motivations. His/her complete body language, what s/he receives as a consequence of these behaviors, what s/he accomplishes in response to the consequence(s), enlightens about the function of his/her behaviors.

A dog that shows reactivity may want to increase or decrease distance, be overwhelmed by his/her emotions and unable to regulate them, or mimic the mood of the human holding the leash.

🤯 Do the people who use superlatives guess the intensity of the emotion felt by the dog?

The problem is that a dog who overreacts, or over-overreacts, doesn't necessarily experience everything as intensely. Some dogs will barely shake it off after a moment of reactivity because they have moved on very quickly; they can calmly refocus on their environment. On the other hand, some dogs that look "calm" sometimes actually reveal a higher emotional level: jaw clenching, hair standing up, slower gait, muscle tension; their body also suffers from the stress they felt without expressing it strongly (diarrhea, vomiting, disturbed sleep).

Let's remain humble and give dogs back the reality of our abilities: we only have vague access to what they feel.

Let's remain humble and accept that a very expressive dog is not necessarily a dog with strong emotions.