Help for the Excitable Rescue: How Bosco the Small Dog Is Overcoming Fear-Reactivity

Hope met a little dog named Bosco this week. His new mom adopted him from a rescue just last week. He’s a soon-to-be fluffy dog—though not at the moment. He was so matted when he was found that the rescue had to shave him down just to find the little guy inside.

Bosco’s about six years old, perfectly housebroken, and quiet in the house (a must for a high-rise condo resident). He’s a sweet companion finding his comfort zone with his forever family.

Until he sees another dog. Apparently his eyesight is fine, because if he glimpses a dog two blocks away, he goes ballistic.

His behavior could easily be dismissed as "another small dog with a Napoleon complex." But his mom, Beth, doesn’t want that for him. She wants him to enjoy a pampered, urban life—walking to the park and relaxing at sidewalk cafes.

Don’t Label Him "Reactive"

Technically, Bosco is reactive. When he sees another dog, he reacts poorly.

Unfortunately, in everyday conversation, “reactive” often gets misconstrued as “aggressive,” which puts owners on the defensive. We advised Beth to start using terms like “exuberant” or “excitable” instead.

Renaming the behavior is the first step; turning it around is the second. Beth came to the right place—we have personal experience turning a fear-aggressive little dog into a complete gentleman. Fran wrote two books on the subject: The Reactive Dog Recipe (the practical step-by-step guide) and Tango: Transforming My Hellhound (the story of living through it).

Bosco, like Tango, is acting out of fear. When he’s terrified, he acts big and loud, hoping to out-frighten whatever scared him. It’s common in small rescue dogs who have been through trauma, but you don't have to just accept it.

Reward the Good Choices

Small, fear-aggressive dogs can become polite companions. By the time Fran had Tango for a couple of years, they were competing in dog sports in crowded venues. It just takes time, patience, and plenty of high-value treats.

The most powerful habit you can build is rewarding the hesitation:

• Catch the pause: If your dog sees a trigger, puts his hackles up, but hesitates for even a second before barking, swoop in immediately with praise and a treat.
• Mark the decision: If he chooses to delay reacting, let him know that’s a victory. The first time a fear-aggressive dog chooses not to pitch a fit is a major milestone.

To get there, start far away—at whatever distance your dog can see the trigger without reacting. For Bosco, that might be two and a half blocks. Define your dog's safety bubble first, then work on shrinking it over time.

Hope for a Big Life

Beth has high hopes for Bosco living a rich, happy life, and her optimism is well-founded. She’s already ahead of the game—unlike Tango in his early days, Bosco doesn’t try to take on every human he meets!