Leash reactivity and aggression toward other dogs often reflect fear and frustration rather than dominance — welfare-centered approaches focus on reducing underlying anxiety.
Leash reactive dogs experience genuine suffering — their behavioral responses reflect underlying states of fear, frustration, or overstimulation that cause significant distress. The welfare implications extend to the entire household: reactive dogs are often walked less, given fewer social opportunities, and experience strained relationships with owners who become anxious and punitive in response to outbursts. Traditional dominance-based approaches to reactivity — including aversive corrections during reactive episodes — worsen the emotional state and create negative associations with the triggers rather than resolving them. Modern behavioral science supports systematic desensitization programs that change the emotional response to triggers before asking for behavioral compliance, producing durable welfare improvements for dog and owner.