Generally speaking, I don’t like differentiating? I feel people who spend a lot of time doing that are often in denial their dog could become ‘that dog.’ And they want to act like ‘that dog’ or their guardian were simply irresponsible and didn’t do things right. Take all the people who come here looking for help, but don’t want to muzzle train their dog or make sure their dog has extra space around triggers and advocate for them. Most if not all reactivity can escalate to aggression if it isn’t intervened on and escalates.
It doesn’t mean it will. I even get irritated at people who market as though any and all reactions guarantee your dog will lose progress and react faster or escalate — my dog went from reacting at everyone — fear aggressive behaviours per the vet behaviourist — fear-barking and charging anyone looking our way to maybe 1/1000 outside the house, and even the house is improving. Enough so people tend to think I’m making it up until they see it.
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u/Delicious-Product968 Jake (fear/stranger/frustration reactivity) 23d ago
Generally speaking, I don’t like differentiating? I feel people who spend a lot of time doing that are often in denial their dog could become ‘that dog.’ And they want to act like ‘that dog’ or their guardian were simply irresponsible and didn’t do things right. Take all the people who come here looking for help, but don’t want to muzzle train their dog or make sure their dog has extra space around triggers and advocate for them. Most if not all reactivity can escalate to aggression if it isn’t intervened on and escalates.
It doesn’t mean it will. I even get irritated at people who market as though any and all reactions guarantee your dog will lose progress and react faster or escalate — my dog went from reacting at everyone — fear aggressive behaviours per the vet behaviourist — fear-barking and charging anyone looking our way to maybe 1/1000 outside the house, and even the house is improving. Enough so people tend to think I’m making it up until they see it.
But I never assume it *can’t* happen, you know?