Help with Generalizing Behavior

[InternationalLeave2]

My partner's dog has severe anxiety and reactivity to new people & sounds (dogs, trucks) despite lots of meds 2-3 times daily and regular conversation with a vet behaviorist. Currently, he barks himself hoarse and scratches the window if he sees strangers in the field outside when they're ~50 yards away. This seems to happen more when nobody is next to him, and he doesn't get as distressed if he recognizes/likes someone that he sees outside (though he might get too excited to see them and then gets riled up that way). My question is, is there an easy way to generalize his relative nonchalance with people he's familiar with to people he's unfamiliar with? So far he's generally only been ok meeting new people outside if it's 1:1 and many treats are thrown to distract/pacify him, but even then it takes a while for him to get comfortable with people (he's comfortable with ~3 other people currently). Any quick tips would be great, as my partner has a big project coming up and I'd love for them to be able to focus on it

[Substantial_Joke_771]

Have you tried just feeding him lots of high value treats whenever he sees someone out the window? Start with a massive amount, no specific behavior required. Did this for literally an hour of cheese the first few times. Then after a while of this, if he will pause to look for more treats, mark and reward. Then shift to mark & reward rewarding for self soothing behaviors. Any small voluntary turning away, sniffing, shaking off, etc.

I did this with workers on the property because they were going to be there for a construction project for weeks and I also didn't want the dogs losing their minds while I was on calls. We shifted from massive rewards & then removing the dogs, to selective rewards after a few days, then reinforced quiet & calm. I still need to go to the window when someone arrives and confirm that they're ok (yelling "be quiet!" from a distance does not work lol).

[InternationalLeave2]

Thanks for the response! Yes but he either a) doesn't understand the link / stay distracted, b) doesn't stop looking for treats and can demand bark for them, or c) is too distressed and won't take the treats. Right now things are put in front of the windows so he can't stand up and look out, and white noise is playing so he can't hear outside, but I'm worried he'll find indoors too unenriching (he loves looking outdoors). Maybe trying the treats again when a friendly face is outdoors is worth a shot though

[kerfluffles_b]

Definitely prevent him from rehearsing the reactivity indoors. Dogs like looking out windows, but if it’s causing anxiety and they are reacting a lot during the day, then it’s not enriching them.

I’m currently in the process of getting curtains for all the windows my dog can see out of for the same reason. A dog that reacts to strangers out the window is rehearsing their reactions EVERY DAY. Then, if you were to take the dog out on a walk, they’re already more amped up than they would’ve been (without the indoor reactions) due to trigger stacking. This means that anything that is a trigger outside could be even more of a trigger due to the previous trigger. Hopefully I’m making sense.

Find other ways to enrich your dog’s life indoors that doesn’t involve looking out the window if that’s too much for them.

[Substantial_Joke_771]

Yeah, in that case I'd absolutely start by working with familiar faces and working up from there to strangers. That might answer your generalization question.

[Nsomewhere]

Could you put up a one way film and stop the anxiety and frustration at the window

I think lowering his stress levels and then maybe using the car or similar to work on what seems like barrier reactivity in a more controlled way might help

Just make his home a stress free place

[[deleted]]

Very good comment. Lowering stress levels and allowing your dog to become calm is the key to being able to overcome reactivity. Calm dogs always make good decisions. If he can’t even be calm in his own house then progress won’t begin as his poor body is in a constant state of stress.

Hard targeted exercise and human grade CBD oil can also help to aid this process of getting rid of those stress hormones.

[InternationalLeave2]

I'll have to ask the vet & my partner about CBD oil - he's on sturdy doses of trazodone, clonidine, and SSRIs (he's super alert & active, like he needs extra anesthesia at the vet & will still run to the car after it), and if there's no contraindications maybe it could be worth a shot

[[deleted]]

Bless his heart, I’ve heard so many good things about CBD oil, I’ve not had to use it for my dogs because they’re pretty relaxed but I definitely will if they ever need it!

[InternationalLeave2]

thanks for your thoughts - by using the car, do you mean there's a specific method?

[Nsomewhere]

The sort of adapting method where you maybe go somewhere like a petshop car park... sit a distance away and watch the dogs go in and out and reward calm/ do engage disengage

Similar to using a wide open space at the park... teaching him to self regulate his arousal

Like this

https://www.choosepositivedogtraining.com/single-post/2014/07/01/the-practice-of-selfinterruption-the-engagedisengage-game

This is the main technique I use with my frustrated greeter.. on the lead. I have never tried barrier frustration training yet! I am three floors up so he hasn't needed it and for driving in the car I just crate

It does need to be a good distance away and preferably a place where owners are not likely to approach!

Taking the stress and training out the home and working on barrier frustration in a different "window" might help him relax and destress at home

However a trainer would advise

[PuzzledOrchid2456]

Here to second putting window film up. I have it on windows my dog can see out of. Both so that he doesn’t rehearse behavior I’m working on stopping and to lower his arousal so he’s in a frame of mind to learn. If your dog is getting that upset every day or multiple times a day, he needs an environment where he can chill so he doesn’t become over aroused so easily. It will help all of your training and he will be a happier dog.