What is a reactive dog?

A dog that overly reacts to everyday scenarios, and having a hard time to calm and content itself is identified as a reactive dog. There are several common reactive dog breeds have identified by researchers and we will take a deep dive into those reactive dog breeds.

Is the breed responsible for dog reactivity?

The short answer is Yes & No. Well, some breeds are more prone to dog reactivity, that does not mean every dog in that breed is a reactive dog. Say for example get a dog from herding dog breed the most notorious one is happened to be the “Border Collie”.

These dogs are bred to be reactive towards changing positions of the livestock. But on the flip side these dogs are very trainable. That is because they are particularly interested in pleasing their humans.

Your Border Collie will herd your other pets by rounding up and chasing them, also they will herd your toddler too! That is because it is what they are programmed to do.

But in the right hands these dogs can have a fulfilled life where any human can co-exist without feeling the pain and burden of having a reactive dog. 

Some of the breeds are bred to work and some breeds are not specifically bred for work, over the time so many breeds got popular among urban households. So regardless of the genetics they became couch pets.

Without any specific work, isolated from their humans for most of the day, hardly have any space to roam or most importantly without any training given, some breeds became more reactive than their other dog friends. That is why today we are going to learn about some of them. 

Toy Group Reactive Dog Breeds

Chihuahua

If you are a dog enthusiast, I’m pretty sure you have seen crazy videos of reactive Chihuahuas! This is the very first breed that comes to mind for most of the people when thinking of Dog reactivity. It’s a Mexican breed which was descended from an ancient breed called Techichi which belongs to the Toltec Empire. They were multi-purpose dogs and also, they were used in tribal rituals. At some point they were included in diets. 

Somehow in today’s world this breed is adored as a small sized companion who has lots of personality in a little body. Despite being a fragile breed, they will not do well with strangers and easily be reactive if you don’t socialize and train them properly. They will charge at other animals, bark extensively without adhering to commands like ‘Stop’, ‘No’. They can be extremely territorial and anxious if you avoid training. This is not a breed like Golden Retriever who is a people pleaser in many cases.  

Herding Group Reactive Dog Breeds

Border Collie

Originated from Northern England this breed is widely considered as the most intelligent dog breed. Because dogs in herding group bred to be shepherds, they are selectively bred considering who can better analyze the difficult terrain and get quick decisions on their herd. Because of that particular reason they react to situations quickly and their genetics make sure they are consistent with what they are bred to do. This is why in the modern world Border Collies are in the talk of reactive breeds.

The important thing to know is in almost every situation this is not the breed’s defect; it is because of the lack of knowledge and leadership skills of the dog owner. If you are planning to have a Border Collie, it is so important to get onboard in breed specific training classes/ boot camps and hands on experience of any sort before you get the dog.

There are so many resources, and you can do your own extensive research before you get one. It is not recommended to get a Border Collie for a first-time dog owner who doesn’t have necessary time to train themselves in order to understand the breed’s specific needs. 

Belgian Malinois

A dog in this breed is a constant ball of energy who seeks work in order to live a Happy dog life. Originating from Belgium no number of physical activities will be too much for them. Apart from German Shepherds this is the most preferred breed of law enforcement work, specifically excellent in work which needs constant willpower to do physical activities such as chasing and catching for long periods of time.

So, when it comes to dog reactivity it is very much expected to have such issues if you fail to give them enough physical and mental stimulation throughout the day. So, if you are an active person who is looking for a dog who is willing to spend lots of time outdoors doing activities like hiking, running, long walking and other types of physically intensive sports this breed can be a right match for you. Otherwise, this breed can be aggressive or disruptive around the house. 

Australian Shepherd

This breed actually is from the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France. despite the name. They are bred using several herding breeds including Border Collie. So that means you can expect some of Border Collie’s characteristics on this breed. Being a Shepherd means you have to be reactive towards the herd so that a huge herd in difficult terrain will be safe on time to the respective location at any given time. Unlike Border Collies site herding these Aussie Shepherds are known to nip sheep’s ankle in order to herd. When considering the Dog’s reactive nature and aggression in dogs, owners have observed extensive barking towards what’s needed to herd. So, it is a reactive breed if you do not own an active lifestyle. 

All in all, breeds in herding group are bred to be working dogs who take their work seriously. Their intelligence, energetic and highly trainable nature makes them a good match for people and families who love adventure spots, hikes or even have a mini farm. A good amount of both mental and physical activities along with consistent and serious dog training with a person who has leadership qualities may make a non-reactive beautiful dog. Otherwise, these breeds can be a nightmare to live with in the hands of inexperienced people. 

Working Group Reactive Dog Breeds

Rottweiler

Rottie originated from Germany who did herding as their earliest job. As the time passes these dogs are used by the farmers to pull their carts from the butcher’s house to the market. Also, history says the breed was used by the German army in the second world war as an alerter to ambushers. Somehow modern-day Rottweilers are domesticated as powerful guard dogs and family companions as well as police, military and special need’s working dogs around the world.

Rotties are smart and courageous dogs with high levels of independence and confidence. Because of their stubborn nature, sometimes obedience training will be rocky, so you better not expect the German shepherd’s gentleness and extreme trainability from them. But it doesn’t mean they are not trainable. It means you have to expect dog reactivity and dog aggression, if you happen to choose not to be a leader to your Rottie and neglect obedience training. 

Boxer

Originating from Germany the ancestors of this breed are the English bulldog and the ancient breed Bullenbeisser (Bull-biter / Bear-biter). Boxer is a highly energetic intelligent working breed who is an excellent protector and can be trained into multitasking. They are very soft and affectionate towards their family. You can find Boxer’s friendly and soft personality may quickly fade away when the dog is having blurry boundaries and tuff methods of corrections. That is where a reactive dog and an aggressive dog can be born. They can be fearful, scared and miserable, if you as the owner do not know how to train and be consistent with these types of dogs. 

Cane Corso

Identifying as ancient Roman war dogs, this breed is developed in Italy. Widely appreciated for the bravery in battle fields this can be a gentle giant for the right owner. This breed does not need extensive guard dog training as their natural instincts are capable of that. They are a highly intelligent breed and quite appreciate their independent nature unlike as many other dog breeds. But that is why you should obedience train your Corso puppy from day one and socialize as much as possible, especially in the first year of their life. Being a large breed if not socialized properly they will be reactive towards strangers, outside their guarding territory.

Early socialization can provide them the knowledge of what to guard and what not to guard so that the reactive nature of this breed can be used only for constructive benefits. Because of being an intelligent breed Corsos make such fabulous bonds when they are in right hands; so much so they do not need to teach about when to guard and when not to do so.  

Dogo Argentino

It’s the National dog of Argentina. Descending from the Córdoba fighting dog breed was created to be used in hunting large game as wild bow and other large size prey animals. These dogs are banned in some countries because of the genetics and highly reactive nature of this beautiful breed. For obvious reasons this breed is not for everyone, but that does not mean Dogos are a bad breed.

There are differences in working line Dogo and Show line Dogo. Same sex dog aggression is somewhat common in both lines, but traits such as manageable energy level, manageable reactive prey drive, and trainability to other tasks, meloness towards their people comes with show line Dogos. If you are thinking about getting a Dogo Argentino as a companion, make sure what line you’re getting and whether it is legal to keep the breed in your country. 

The below breeds can also be reactive in wrong human hands along with their genetics. More or less the reasons are somewhat similar to the above reasons about working breeds.

• Perro de Presa Canario 
• Fila Brasileiro
• Tosa Inu
• Shiba Inu
• Shikoku Inu
• Akita Inu

Non Sporting Group Reactive Dog Breeds

English Bulldog

This dog breed also has some rough history as some of the others in the reactive dog breed list. Initially used in bull baiting, today’s Bulldog is far more out bred from dog aggression. The breed has a remarkably low energy level with laid back temperament in general. But they are known to be stubborn sometimes so that training can be a bit more challenging than other breeds. Because of this reason this breed can be reactive over food or something (like a toy or a favorite place to sleep) that they want to be involving themselves. Consistent corrections and positive reinforcement will come in handy in these situations. 

Chow Chow

Originated in Mongolia, China this beautiful fluffy breed is used for various   purposes, including hunting, cart pulling and guarding. Chows are intelligent dogs, but they are also independent and sometimes stubborn. Training can be challenging with this breed. If not trained properly Chows can be reactive towards food and home alone situations where you can find your dog gone missing from your property because of their sneaky nature. Chows are also recommended for experienced canine owners who have time and patience to work with dogs’ reactive nature from a very young age. 

Chinese Shar-Pei

These wrinkly bundles of joy are coming from Southern China. Back in the days Chinese farmers used this breed as a hunting assistance, livestock guardian and a herding dog. Generally, seems to be calm and quiet this breed can be described as strong willed, fearless and independent. Dog reactivity can be exhibited when strangers are approached hence used as a guardian breed. Same sex dog reactivity can happen with this breed so early socialization is a must. You should definitely learn to be the leader for your Shar-Pei or else aggression and reactivity can result down the line. 

Are reactive dog breeds aggressive?

Dog reactivity and Dog aggression are two separate phenomena. Sometimes Reactive dogs can be an aggressive dog but most of the time aggressive dogs are reactive. If a reactive dog gets aggressive most of the time it is because of their fear. Sometimes it can be their genetics playing around. In that case you must be a high-level canine leader to your dog. Otherwise, these dogs can end up in dog pounds and humans also have to pay the price by risking people’s safety.