The key point
Start with the individual dog and the situation. A label alone does not explain the behaviour or establish the risk.
When your dog barks, fixates or lunges around another dog, it is understandable to want a clear explanation and something practical to do next. At Canine UK, we begin by understanding the individual dog and the circumstances, rather than choosing a method from the reaction alone.
You do not need to decide whether your dog is “reactive” or “aggressive” before asking for help. Describe what happens, where it happens and what makes everyday life difficult. The audit explores the behaviour and the risk behind those observations.
Look at the whole picture
Our approach considers health, genetics, learning history, arousal, environment, fulfilment, handling and household routines. We also consider the people responsible for the dog and what they can realistically maintain.
That means looking beyond a difficult moment on a walk. Previous training, rest, daily activity and changes at home may all be relevant information. These are areas to investigate, not an assumption that every factor is causing your dog’s reaction.
Include medical history and health concerns. Training does not replace veterinary care.
Describe the pattern before explaining it
Canine UK’s observation resources separate what happened from what might explain it. A useful account includes three stages:
- Before: Where were you? What appeared or changed? What was your dog doing immediately beforehand?
- During: What did your dog do as well as bark? Record movement, posture, distance and response to your handling where you can observe safely.
- After: What changed, what did you do and how did your dog recover?
For example: “A dog appeared ahead on a narrow path. Mine stopped, stared and then pulled forward. We left the path. A few minutes later, my dog resumed sniffing.”
This is an illustrative observation, not a client case or a diagnosis. It records something the Canine UK team can explore without claiming to know the cause. Easier encounters are worth mentioning too, including how the setting and handling differed.
An audit is not a test of how far you can push
Do not arrange a close encounter, provoke a stronger reaction or repeat an unsafe situation to obtain evidence. You can explain what has already happened. Written observations are enough to begin the conversation.
Tell the team about previous bites, attempted bites, handling difficulties and concerns about control before attending. Appropriate arrangements depend on an accurate history.
Where training includes controlled exposure, it should form part of an individual plan with suitable settings, handling and risk management. It is not an instruction to put your dog into increasingly difficult encounters yourself.
The plan must work for dog and owner
Canine UK uses a balanced, individualised approach. Reward, motivation, guidance and accountability have a place, with methods and equipment selected for the dog, circumstances and objectives.
Owners need to understand what is being taught, how to apply it and when the plan needs reviewing. A recommendation must account for practical handling and the realities of daily life, not just what happens during a training session.
Measure useful progress, not silence alone
Our resources encourage reviewing intensity, recovery, handling and the conditions in which behaviour changes. A quieter encounter is one observation, not proof that the dog is comfortable or the work is complete.
Calm neutrality can be a valid goal. Your dog does not have to greet every dog. Safer handling and more manageable everyday encounters may be more appropriate objectives, with ongoing management where needed.
Explore the Canine UK Behavioural Audit to understand the behaviour and plan the next step.
