The 9 Best Online Communities For Reactive Dog Parents

* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *

Call it growly, fearful, selective, aggressive, unfriendly or reactive - it turns out 75% of dog owners have a dog that in some way overreacts to stimuli. It’s hard to be a dog in the modern world. More and more of us are living in cities with our dogs and cities weren’t built for dogs. The loud noises, fast moving objects, dangerous roads and leashes - this isn’t an environment that is conducive for a dog to live their best life. And thus we are seeing dogs develop more and more neuroses.

Being a reactive dog parent can be lonely and discouraging. You are watching a loved one suffer and not sure how to help them. You may feel anxiety about everyday activities, like taking your dog for a walk. You may feel a stigma, like something is wrong with your dog and with you and want to keep your dog’s reactivity a secret. But it turns out, you are not alone! Like said, 75% of dog owners have a dog that is in some way reactive. 

Check out these online communities for ideas, support, resources - and just to have human connection with other folks going through the same thing. Your dog can have a full life! As always, we recommend taking any kind of behavioral course in partnership with a certified trainer!

1. Reactive and Aggressive Dog Support Group (Facebook)

Run by Eden Dog Academy, this Facebook group is dedicated to supporting people living with dogs with behaviour problems such as reactivity and aggression. At nearly 41,000 members, there is much honest discussion with people frequently asking questions and getting support for their reactive dogs. They follow LIMA (Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive) guidelines.

Check it out here

2. Fearful and Reactive Dog Support Community by Dogkind (Facebook)

Join 7,500 other reactive dog parents in supporting each other in this Facebook group run by Dog Kind training. This group is dedicated to positive reinforcement training and does not allow discussion of aversives.

Check it out here

3. r/reactivedogs (Reddit)

With nearly 75,000 members, this subreddit is devoted to reactive dog questions, answers and advice. They support the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) approach to dog training. 

Check it out here

4. Reactive Dog Owners of Minnesota (Facebook)

If you live in Minnesota and have a reactive dog, check out this Facebook group for reactive dog owners in Minnesota. This group is not a Sniffspot group, but we do sponsor it! It only allows science-based, positive training discussion.

Check it out here

5. Reactive / Difficult Dog Owners of Washington (Facebook)

If you are located in Washington state, check out the local reactive dog Facebook group. You can find others in the area going through the same thing as you, connect with folks planning pack walks or connect with a local trainer. This group was started by Sniffspot’s founder and is for science-based, positive training only.

Check it out here

6. Reactive Dog Owners of Oregon (Facebook)

This is a local reactive dog support Facebook group for folks living in Oregon. If you live in Oregon, join to connect with other local reactive dog parents. This group was started by Sniffspot’s founder and is for science-based, positive training only.

Check it out here

7. Reactive Dog Owners Of California (Facebook)

This local Facebook group is for California reactive dog parents. This group was started by Sniffspot’s founder and is for science-based, positive training only.

Check it out here

8. Reactive Dog Owners of DC, Maryland, & Virginia (Facebook)

If you live in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area and have a reactive dog, consider joining this Facebook group to connect with other locals going through the same thing. This group was started by Sniffspot’s founder and is for science-based, positive training only.

Check it out here

9. Reactive Dog Owners of Massachusetts (Facebook)

This is a local reactive dog owner group for folks in Massachusetts. You can get support and advice, such as the best trainers or sitters for reactive dogs, etc. Sniffspot also sponsors this group, but it is not a Sniffspot group. It only allows positive training techniques.

Check it out here

Trainer Review of this Article

There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.  

This is the trainer that reviewed this article:

Lindy Langum

Founder - K9 Fun Club

Staff Trainer - Summit Assistance Dogs

Certified in Canine Studies (CSS), NW School of Canine Studies