So, I admit it. I stalk forums. I no longer post, mostly because I don't get anything out of them anymore. But one post caught my eye and I think that it did perhaps lead me down a path of questioning whether it really matters if your dog is reactive or only aggressive, and also how difficult it can be to differentiate between the two in the first place. I personally feel that it only matters in a clinical sense, but probably does not have much bearing in the real world. I can tell you that if Harper encountered a dog of either persuasion, it wouldn't occur to me to differentiate between the two prior to using a can of bear mace to save my dog.
Reactive dogs, according to what I'm given to understand about canine behavior, are outwardly vocal: You will see the snarling, lunging, over-the-top frothy behavior that most people associate with dog aggression. A reactive dog is likely to initiate a confrontation, but will not usually see it through until the brutal end. It is possible to calm a reactive dog, and even train and redirect the reactivity toward a more appropriate outlet (such as a toy or a bite sleeve). Reactive dogs are easy to spot, because they will tell you how reactive they are!
Dogs that are truly aggressive are silent. Some behaviorists have compared dog aggression to prey drive, as dogs stalking animals exhibit similar behaviors as dogs that are dog aggressive. Dogs that freeze, lower their head, and proceed to stalk their intended victim are much less easy to recognize, and therefore more dangerous, then a dog that is reactive. Human beings are wired to pay more attention to what someone says as opposed to how someone is standing. This makes dog aggressive canines even more dangerous; sometimes we don't notice the warning signals until its too late. I would venture to say that most people who own these dogs probably feel that they have no warning, and that the "dog attacks out of nowhere."
True dog aggression will cause a dog to jump a fence, break its collar, pull its master over and refused to be restrained when encountering another dog. Often, they may exhibit signs similar to a dog wanting to play: wriggling, whining excitedly, straining to reach the other dog. That's not friendliness; its a eager desire to engage in combat and kill.
It has been thought that dogs are genetically wired to be aggressive, but are environmentally affected to be reactive. In other words, a dog is bred to be aggressive, but its experiences will make it reactive. Practically speaking, it doesn't really matter to the dog being mauled whether its attacker was created by genetics or environment. If a large enough dog is reactive and gets a hold of your dog, it may not matter whether that dog's intent is to kill, or not. The damage would be done.
Whether I agree or disagree with the above school of thought on reactive versus aggressive dogs, the point is that most people won't recognize either for what they truly are and will continue to take their poorly socialized dogs to dog parks and out on walks, making life annoying at best and hazardous at worst for the rest of us. Especially for those like me, who would rather see themselves get mauled then their precious pet.
In my opinion, however, it is unwise to believe that a rowdy dog is not aggressive, or that a silent dog is not dog aggressive. I'm sure that there are dogs who are truly aggressive who are vocal, and dogs that are reactive who are silent. The most important thing is to recognize both "sets" of behavior as a potential for disaster. The only way to combat dogs who exhibit such behaviors is to catch the dog before its behavior escalates into something very serious.
In conclusion, the only reason that knowing the difference between a reactive dog and an aggressive dog is important, is so that the average pet own can recognize it to prevent a fight. If you have a reactive or aggressive dog, its easier to mitigate the situation if you can recognize what your dog is saying. However, regardless of whether the dog is barking and snarling or stalking, you'll want to get your pet out of there as soon as possible. Some safety precautions include teaching your pet to jump in your arms calmly on command (if your dog is small enough) or carrying mace, or a taser, local law permitting.
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