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So, let me start off by saying that I ultimately need to know the difference between them and how to tell the difference. I do not know.
Here's what I think they mean:
Aggression is, well, aggression, disdain for another dog, to lack of a better term.
Whereas Reactivity is the focus, the pulling, the whining, the want to get at another dog, but not necessarily hurt them.
How right am I?
For the longest time now I have thought my dog Diesel to be dog aggressive. But then I see all these terms about Leash and Dog Reactivity and I'm questioning myself. What is reactivity? How does it differ from aggression? How can you tell the difference?
Normally I can read dogs pretty well, but not Diesel, and I've honestly been too afraid to let him actually greet another dog while on a leash. That's a fight I don't think I could break up.
When we are on walks, or in public, if he sees another dog he will stop and stare for a moment, then start to stiffen a little and tug on the leash. There's no growling or barking or anything.
Once, we were at a festival and had to be very, I mean very, close to other dogs. It made me a nervous wreck, but there were no causalities. However, there was a Golden that someone decided would be cute to keep running past us. Diesel would jump up and try to take off after it.
Then, on a walk, we had two chihuahuas run out to us barking and growling, annnnd Diesel's leash broke. >-> Last thing I saw was these Chihuahuas screaming, and Diesel chasing them down the road at top speed and under a car, then once they were hidden he came back to me like nothing had ever happened.
Now, he frequently escapes and leaves to go swimming or something, or there are times when I will let him off leash to run and play frisbee and swim, etc. I live in a place fairly far from the road, with very slow moving traffic, no through traffic and Diesel always pretty much stays in his designated areas and comes when called. He runs around and gets chased by other dogs and is greeted by them and doesn't seem to have a problem at all. This is what confuses me.
So, to sum up, what is reactivity, how does it differ from aggression, how can you tell the differences, and should I just suck it up and let him greet another dog should we pass one?
Here's what I think they mean:
Aggression is, well, aggression, disdain for another dog, to lack of a better term.
Whereas Reactivity is the focus, the pulling, the whining, the want to get at another dog, but not necessarily hurt them.
How right am I?
For the longest time now I have thought my dog Diesel to be dog aggressive. But then I see all these terms about Leash and Dog Reactivity and I'm questioning myself. What is reactivity? How does it differ from aggression? How can you tell the difference?
Normally I can read dogs pretty well, but not Diesel, and I've honestly been too afraid to let him actually greet another dog while on a leash. That's a fight I don't think I could break up.
When we are on walks, or in public, if he sees another dog he will stop and stare for a moment, then start to stiffen a little and tug on the leash. There's no growling or barking or anything.
Once, we were at a festival and had to be very, I mean very, close to other dogs. It made me a nervous wreck, but there were no causalities. However, there was a Golden that someone decided would be cute to keep running past us. Diesel would jump up and try to take off after it.
Then, on a walk, we had two chihuahuas run out to us barking and growling, annnnd Diesel's leash broke. >-> Last thing I saw was these Chihuahuas screaming, and Diesel chasing them down the road at top speed and under a car, then once they were hidden he came back to me like nothing had ever happened.
Now, he frequently escapes and leaves to go swimming or something, or there are times when I will let him off leash to run and play frisbee and swim, etc. I live in a place fairly far from the road, with very slow moving traffic, no through traffic and Diesel always pretty much stays in his designated areas and comes when called. He runs around and gets chased by other dogs and is greeted by them and doesn't seem to have a problem at all. This is what confuses me.
So, to sum up, what is reactivity, how does it differ from aggression, how can you tell the differences, and should I just suck it up and let him greet another dog should we pass one?