If you’ve ever seen a dog barking, lunging, or pulling on leash, it might be easy to label them as "reactive." But not all high-energy, noisy dogs are driven by fear. Some are just fizzy — those bubbly, over-the-top, overly social dogs who just can’t wait to get to the party. Interestingly, the games and training exercises we use can be very similar for both types. But how we approach the behavior, and what we expect from the dog (and human!), can be very different.
Here are some simple ways to tell the difference and tailor your training approach accordingly:
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1. The Motivation Behind the Behavior
History matters. For both types of dogs, understanding their learning history gives us valuable clues about why certain behaviors are happening.
A fearful dog has likely learned that barking, lunging, or pulling makes the scary thing go away. It's a survival tactic, not a social one. Their reactions are driven by a powerful emotional response: fear.
A fizzy dog has likely learned that if they pull, jump, or bark like a maniac, they get what they want — whether that's access to a person, another dog, or just the joy of forward motion.
So while both dogs are behaving to get a certain outcome, one is trying to avoid something, while the other is trying to reach it.
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2. How Emotions Affect Progress
Changing emotional responses often takes longer. Why? Because fear is sticky. Facing fears is hard work for both dogs and humans.
With fearful dogs, the margin for human error is small. A single mistake during a session can allow fear to sneak back in, which can stall or even reverse progress. This is why fearful dogs often need slower progress and very carefully controlled sessions.
With fizzy dogs, training is generally a little more forgiving. Mistakes might still slow progress, but they're less likely to cause emotional setbacks. These dogs aren't afraid; they're excited!
In both cases, training takes time, but the emotional stakes are higher for fearful dogs, and that influences your pace, your setup, and your goals.
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3. The Right Reinforcement Makes a Big Difference
Reinforcement strategies need to be customized for each dog.
Fearful dogs may refuse even the highest value treats at the beginning. When their sympathetic nervous system is activated, digestion slows down and food often becomes irrelevant. This can be frustrating, but it's a clear sign that we need to reduce the pressure.
Fizzy dogs, on the other hand, often love food. But if your treat is too high-value, it might add fuel to the excitement. Too low, and you won't be able to compete with the distractions. A balanced treat pouch with a mix of low, medium, and high-value options (think "puppy trail mix") gives you flexibility in the moment.
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4. Distractions & Setups Matter
Choosing the right distraction for your sessions is key.
With fearful dogs, consistency is comforting. You might need to work with the same calm demo dog or person over several sessions to help the fearful dog build trust and safety skills. Change too much, too soon, and you risk losing progress.
Fizzy dogs often benefit from variety. Once they learn the game, you can rotate your distractions — new dogs, new people — to help them generalize their skills without overwhelming them emotionally.
This is something we see often during our Group Walks:
Fizzy dogs tend to walk out front, often near unfamiliar teams. They’re practicing self-regulation and polite greetings with changing distractions.
Fearful dog teams usually stay right in front of or behind me and Belle, so they have the consistency of a known team they trust.
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In summary, while the same training tools may apply to both reactive and fizzy dogs, our understanding of their motivations and emotional states must guide how we use them. Tailoring the pace, reinforcement, and setup makes all the difference in helping these dogs (and their humans!) succeed.
If you're working with a reactive or fizzy dog, you're not alone. With the right support and smart training strategies, both types of dogs can learn new, more helpful behaviors that make walks and outings more enjoyable for everyone.
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