There is no scientific evidence for this just my opinion and observation but so many dog reactive dogs do seem to just luuuuuurve people. It seems they understand how people react, they know what to do to keep the situation happy. Often these dogs are giving out the same signals to other dogs but the other dogs just do not pick on on their signals and bundle in - the reactive dogs then need to up the anti eg lunge and bark.
Generally reactive dogs very quickly learn how to be calm and relaxed around well controlled good mannered dogs. There is just an increase in the "my dog only wants to play" type owner who gets away with not training their dog as they will not physically hurt anyone HOWEVER they cause major emotional trauma to many dogs.
When training reactive dogs there is a small line between distraction and learning to deal with the situation. Some situation distraction is the only way to go. Eg Mad bouncy dog charging over I would teach a lets go command or find it command and leg it!
However generally you want to change your dogs reaction to the other dogs so you do need your dog to acknowledge the other dog and whilst they are calm (under threshold) treat and treat. Even with the most toy driven dog I would do this with treats to start with.
- if the dog does not eat he is over threshold
- toys can wind up the dogs to an excited level and then it is hard to see threshold levels.
Your aim is to get your dog comfortable around dogs not just ignoring them. However you may need to start this from massive distances away. It may be by starting with a stuffed dog. It may be using a friend on the otherside of the football pitch.
Your dog looks at the dog you treat and move away or move on. Watch your dogs body language carefully even get someone to video it. You will see very subtle signs of discomfort.
Some dogs look away and just will not look at the other dog, some lip lick, some raise their tails, some sniff etc these are all signs you are a bit too close.
Some dogs just go over threshold way to fast to see the warning signals.
Use the places you avoid to try this out. The park usually a place owners with reactive dogs stay away from. Be the other side of the fence, work out your escape routes eg hide behind a car etc. Let your dog see other dogs at a calm distance and reward.
I run reactive dog classes and I can guarantee that they will be calmer than the "general" dog classes. They will be set up in a way that the dogs can handle the other dogs. Usually there is no reactivity at all and by the second session the dogs are happily walking in parallel and towards each other. But this does not mean they are "cured" In that location and with those dogs they feel comfortable, this then needs to be taken out on location.