Reactive Dog Training: Turning Chaos Into Calm, One Treat at a Time

I have seen reactive dog training go wrong more than once—tugging, berating, shouting, and making absolutely no progress toward a well-behaved K9.

What many seem to miss is what a reactive dog is and how they got that way. Once you find out, learning how to calm a reactive dog becomes a lot easier. Reactive dogs aren't bad dogs. They're not broken or unfixable. You can socialize a reactive dog.

So, the other day, I was walking Pixie and Bruno down our usual neighborhood route when I spotted my friend, Melissa, standing on the sidewalk—holding onto her dog’s leash for dear life.

Rune, her usually sweet rescue pup, was barking, lunging, and making a scene at the sight of another dog across the street.

“I don’t get it,” she sighed once the other dog was out of sight. “Why is she like this? She’s fine at home, but the second we see another dog, it’s like she forgets how to be normal.”

"She may be an overactive dog—one who learned to respond to potential threats—and people/dogs/objects of interest—in an over-the-top way."

I reassured her that this was a learned behavior. "It's not just how Rune is." If she learned it, she could learn a new way.

What is a Reactive Dog?

A reactive dog overreacts to common triggers—other dogs, people, cars, bikes, or even random inanimate objects like mailboxes and box fans (yes, really).

This isn't your run-of-the-mill alert barking to let you know someone pulled into the driveway. Reactive dogs are intense! Their behavior may seem downright bizarre, such as:

• Barking, growling, or lunging at harmless objects
• Over-the-top excitement or frustration at everyday things
• Pulling on the leash so hard they nearly take you with them
• Stiff body language or intense staring that sends a chill down your spine
• Refusing to disengage from a trigger like they're waiting for that tree trunk to make its next move

Reactivity doesn't indicate an aggressive dog. Instead, many reactive dogs are fearful or frustrated. They may also have "learned helplessness" from frequently being in situations where they couldn't get their basic needs met (food, water, shelter, safety, social interactions, affection), no matter how much they barked and howled.

This is more common in dogs who've come from a neglect situation—like Rune. But it could also happen in a home where people are just really busy and don't realize the dog isn't getting the care it needs.

A dog is a lot like a 4-year-old human. They have emotions and a strong need to connect with the people and animals around them. They're also not fully able to meet their own needs and rely on others.

Without the right training, reactive behavior can escalate into serious behavior problems, including biting and aggression. So, while empathy is important, it's just as critical to take the right action.

In other words, don't encourage it by staring back at them or laughing at them when they become agitated by a spinning fan blade.

Rather, let's reinforce constructive behaviors and help the dog feel safe as they explore new dogs, people, and environments.

How to Calm a Reactive Dog: Step-by-Step Training Guide

1. Identify Your Dog’s Triggers

You don't have to know how they developed. Just be vigilant to learn what they are.

I had a neighbor who inherited a Chinese Crested who was the most loveable guy until someone put shoes on in the house. The sound of sneakers walking on hard floors sent the dog racing under the bed like a summer thunderstorm. We could only speculate how this fear began. The important thing was that my neighbor became aware of it.

Every reactive dog has specific triggers—things that set them off. Common ones include:

• Other dogs
• Strangers
• Cars, bikes, or skateboards
• Loud noises
• Sudden movements

But it really could be anything. Try keeping a journal. When your dog reacts, try to figure out what it's reacting to and the circumstances surrounding it to draw clues.

2. Create Distance from Triggers

If your dog explodes into a frenzy the second they see another dog, they’re too close to their trigger—for now.

• Find their threshold—the distance at which they notice the trigger but aren’t reacting yet.
• Start training from that distance. Reward their calm behavior with high-value treats...And praise.
• Gradually decrease the distance as they improve. Reward them at intervals until you can get close to a dog with only curious reactions like sniffing, nipping, or play bows.

3. Use the Best Training Treats for Dogs to Reinforce Calm Behavior

Most dogs won’t take basic kibble when they’re worked up. You need something better than the distraction. I choose single-ingredient beef lung bites.

This is just roasted organ meat. It doesn't smell. But it's delicious for dogs. My terrier Pixie will do backflips for these treats.

She likes them for their taste, but I love their nutrition: omega-3 fatty acids, collagen, iron, calcium, B vitamins, and more.

They're small, and I break them into multiple pieces to reinforce socially acceptable dog behavior positively.

4. Teach Alternative Behaviors

"No." "Stop," and commands like this don't work because the dog doesn't understand what it's not supposed to be doing.

On the other hand, "down" is an affirmative command with a clear action for the dog to perform.

Same with "Look at me", "Let's go", or "Sit". These essential commands redirect the dog's behavior. They clearly communicate what you want them to do.

And many rescue pups already know a basic command or two. So you can build on that if they do.

5. Provide Mental Stimulation

Create a healthy dog bone routine. Dogs instinctually want to chew on dog bones. The activity is very mentally stimulating, so it can ease anxiety and help them feel more content.

Just like with dog treats, I look for dog bones that are a single ingredient and are nutritious. You can't get much better than a meaty grass-fed beef marrow filled dog bones.

Grass-fed beef has 2.5X the omega 3s for better dog health. These healthy fats are critical for brain and immune system health, so they help reactive dogs manage their stress.

6. Teach Crate Training

My dogs' ancestral wolves are "den-dwelling". Dens are their homes, where they stay safe and warm.

When positively presented to a dog, a crate becomes a "den". They take ownership of this space and feel secure that it's theirs. The crate becomes their den.

Put cozy blankets in their den and invite them in with treats. Never force them in. Let them find and learn to appreciate the crate.

For more on crate training, be sure to check out this post.

And want real training strategies from experts? Join our 7-Day Dog Training Challenge for structured tips and exclusive discounts on our all-natural dog treats.

Rune Reacts to Positive Reward Training

Melissa started rewarding Run's calm moments instead of focusing on his outbursts. She actively desensitized her to dogs and began reinforcing a regular walking routine and teaching Rune commands like "Let's go.".

After a few weeks, she called me up, excited—she had seen another dog across the street, looked to Melissa for guidance, and didn’t react.

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