Pet To Pal Podcast · March 24, 2026 · 57 min

Understanding Fear, Reactivity, & Aggression in Dogs

Aggression in dogs is one of the most misunderstood topics in training… And most people are approaching it the wrong way. In episode 10 of the Pet To Pal Podcast, Kim from Suburban Paws sits down with Matt Maltese of Pet To Pal Dog Training in Toronto as we break down the reality of fear, reactivity, and aggression - and why Kim believes it’s not something that can simply be “fixed.” We cover: - The truth about aggressive dog behavior - Why aggression is about management, not a quick cure - How fear and reactivity actually develop - The importance of reading dog body language - Why many owners need to unlearn bad advice - How to create safe, structured exposure - Misused tools and confusion around leadership in dog training This is a more nuanced, honest conversation about what it really takes to help dogs struggling with fear and aggression. Subscribe for more conversations with dog trainers and industry professionals. dog aggression, reactive dog training, fearful dog training, dog behavior problems, how to handle aggressive dogs, dog training mistakes, dog body language