Published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, the study by Danielle Stephens-Lewis, Amber Johnson, Nia Turley, Rebecca Naydorf-Hannis, Laura Scurlock-Evans, and K. Schenke investigates how people define and understand canine reactivity—one of the most cited reasons for relinquishment or euthanasia, despite its vague and inconsistent definition in public and scientific discourse.
Using an online survey followed by thematic analysis, the authors identified six sub-themes that grouped into three overarching clusters: Canine Characteristics, The Importance of Human Perception, and Human Capability. Together, these illustrate how interpretations of reactivity arise from both dog behavior and the observer’s own experiences, beliefs, and limitations.
Many participants used the label “reactive” to describe a broad range of behaviors—from barking or lunging to heightened arousal—yet the same behaviors were sometimes interpreted as normal species-typical responses. This highlights a significant tension: whether reactivity reflects a dog’s inherent traits or a human inconvenience resulting from mismatched expectations.
The findings reveal contradictory narratives. Some respondents framed reactivity as a training deficit or a handler management issue; others saw it as a dog’s emotional communication. Human capability, including knowledge, confidence, and emotional responses, strongly shaped these interpretations.
To address this inconsistency, the authors propose a preliminary Perceived Reactivity Framework, offering a structured way to conceptualize how reactivity emerges from intertwined canine and human factors. Clarifying this term may help improve welfare outcomes by promoting more accurate understanding, reducing mislabelling, and supporting better behavior interventions.
Source: Stephens-Lewis, D., Johnson, A., Turley, N., Naydorf-Hannis, R., Scurlock-Evans, L., and Schenke, K. (2022). Understanding Canine ‘Reactivity’: Species-Specific Behaviour or Human Inconvenience? Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. Published 24 November 2022.
