Reactive dogs that lunge, bark, or growl on leash are often misunderstood as aggressive, when they are typically experiencing fear or overarousal.
Leash-reactive dogs are often living in chronic stress. Each reactive episode is a fear or frustration response, not a choice, and punishment-based responses compound the underlying emotional state. Many reactive dogs are surrendered or euthanized because owners lack support in understanding and managing the behavior. Evidence-based behavior modification — gradual exposure at sub-threshold distances with positive experiences — can transform welfare outcomes for these dogs and preserve the human-animal bond.