It is possible to exacerbate these behaviours. When your dog reacts, actions like tight leashes, jerks on the lead, harsh words and exclamations/shouting can be enough to cause your dog to make an unwanted association with other dogs (and with you). In addition, if you are nervous or worried about how your dog may react to another dog, it’s normal to become tense and tighten up the leash. Your dog may link your actions with the presence of other dogs, which can result in more exaggerated behaviours when they see other dogs in the future.
However, it’s important to note that your dog’s behaviour is not your fault. Canine behaviour is complex, and everyone is doing their best with the knowledge and skills they have.
Find out more about why dogs react, what it means, and how you can help in our full article on Reactivity In Dogs here.