Not Broken, Just Different: Why Your Dog Reacts When Others Don’t

Does your dog react when others don’t? Learn why some dogs are more sensitive, what drives reactivity, and how to stop comparing and start supporting

Ever had that moment?

You’re walking your dog, minding your own business, when another dog appears.
The other dog trots past like a zen monk in fur.
And your dog?

Levitates.
Barks like they’ve seen a ghost.
Does an entire Cirque du Soleil routine on the end of the lead.

And to add insult to injury, the other owner gives you that look.
The one that says: “Oh… one of those dogs.”

You smile weakly while trying not to get your shoulder dislocated.
Inside, it hurts.

The Comparison Game (aka: The Fastest Route to Feeling Rubbish)

It’s so easy to compare.

🐾 “My friend’s dog doesn’t do this.”
🐾 “Why can that spaniel walk past calmly when mine acts possessed?”
🐾 “Everyone else seems to be doing better than us.”

We’ve been there. We get it.

But here’s the thing: Your dog isn’t broken. They’re just different.

And understanding that difference?
It’s the first step toward change.

🧠 Why Some Dogs React Differently

1. Wiring Matters

Just like people, dogs are born with different temperaments and sensitivities.
Some are chill. Some are big feelings dogs.

Think of it like volume knobs:

One dog might hear a loud noise and barely blink.
Another hears the same noise and thinks the apocalypse has begun.

It’s not drama. It’s neurology.

2. Breed Matters

Some breeds were literally designed to be more alert, more vocal, or more motion-sensitive.
(It’s not your Border Collie’s fault she wants to herd passing joggers.)

Even within breeds, individual dogs vary wildly.
That Labrador lying like a potato in the café? He’s not a gold standard. He’s just... Dave.

3. Experience Matters

Did your dog miss out on safe early socialisation?
Had a bad first encounter with another dog?
Lived through trauma or chaos?

Those experiences shape their world view - and their reactions.
What looks “over the top” to us might be entirely reasonable to them.

4. Health + Hormones Matter

Pain, discomfort, gut health, even thyroid imbalances can affect behaviour.
And then there’s sleep, hunger, overstimulation…

You know how you get when you’ve had 4 hours’ sleep and someone breathes too loudly in your direction?
Dogs feel that too.

🪣 The Stress Bucket (Yes, Your Dog Has One)

Every dog has a metaphorical stress bucket.
Tiny things drip into it all day: sounds, smells, boredom, conflict, skipped naps, new visitors.

When the bucket gets full?
One tiny drop - like a dog in the distance - can cause it to overflow.

That’s not your dog being difficult.
That’s your dog saying, “I can’t handle any more right now.”

🐾 So What Can You Do?

Here’s the good news:
Once you understand what’s behind your dog’s reactivity, everything changes.

Start here:

✅ Ditch the comparison game
✅ Get curious about your dog’s thresholds and sensitivities
✅ Provide safety, structure, recovery time, and support
✅ Recognise their feelings instead of resisting them

It’s not about “fixing” them.
It’s about helping them feel better—and show up differently as a result.

🧡 Final Thought: You're Not Alone

We’ve worked with so many amazing people whose dogs were dismissed as “difficult.”
And time after time, the story is the same:

Once they stop fighting the behaviour—and start listening to the dog underneath it—progress happens.
Connection deepens.
Life gets easier.

So if your dog loses it over a skateboard while someone else’s barely blinks?

It doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you’ve got one of the special ones. 💛

📌 Coming Up Next Week:

We’ll be exploring structure, stability, and how to build a routine that helps your dog feel safe and thrive.

Until then - go easy on yourself.
You and your dog?
You’re doing better than you think.

Categories: : reactive dog training