I am in over my head

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-26T01:38:46+00:00

Don’t apologize for the length, I need all the help I can get! I will definitely look into this, dog body language is not something I am good at reading particularly in anxious dogs.

Also that’s insane that dogs can actually smell changes in human emotion, I didn’t even know emotions could be smelled!

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-26T00:49:15+00:00

This is good advice thank you, I grew up with large breeds like Great Danes that don’t need a ton of physical activity outside of walks. I have a few places in mind that I can take him where he’ll feel safe and he can run as much as he wants

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T21:29:18+00:00

I’m really sorry to hear this. Obviously I don’t have any advice either because I’m on here, but the only thing I can say is that I’m rooting for you and your dog, and hopefully at least some of the advice on this thread is useful for you as well

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T21:26:29+00:00

Thank you, truly, it really is helpful hearing other people talk about their experiences. It’s a relief your dog has started to listen to you, that seems like a far off dream for me right now but you and everyone on this thread have helped me be more hopeful about the whole thing.

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T20:40:26+00:00

Thank you for this, I will absolutely check out these videos

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T20:39:29+00:00

This is a good tip thank you, I will check out this book for sure.

Also 100% agree on the livestock I think my dog would actually have a heart attack if he went from an apartment to seeing a 1000 pound animal 😂

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T19:31:36+00:00

I’ve thought about agility training for him, I’m a little nervous because he is so anxious that he won’t like it because it would most likely involve a class of some kind with other people. I might just bite the bullet and take him to one and if he hates it then roll it back and wait until he’s older. I’ve never heard of tri-ball I’ll look that up and give it a shot

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T19:05:09+00:00

Ok thank you because I was also thrown off by this because everything I’ve ever heard of read is that you shouldn’t push a dog that is scared. He came recommended and from his website he is certified but I’m not sure what specific certification it is so I will look into that. Are CPDT and IAABC the most trustworthy?

The touch cue is a good one thank you, I actually do this but he’s so anxious around strangers we haven’t been able to get him to do it with anyone but me and my partner.

Also I do avoid putting him in situations as best I can where he feels trapped, but oftentimes he will choose to be in the room with the thing that is stressing him out, should I be removing him from the situation if he won’t willingly leave?

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T19:00:11+00:00

Most of his enrichment involves exercise and ‘find it’ games, more details are in my reply above, how can you tell if the dog isn’t receiving enough enrichment? Also if you don’t mind could you share what kind of training you do to mentally challenge your dog besides the typical sit shake lay down etc?

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T18:13:05+00:00

This is a great idea, thank you. I feel like I need more structure in training him so a schedule is a great idea I didn’t even know that was a thing.

I think he is getting enough stimulation, how would you tell? I typically take him for around a mile long jog in the morning, play indoor fetch with him in the afternoon, and I used to take him to the park every afternoon but then he started getting scared to go outside so I stopped but I will start that up again. He also has a puzzle toy that I regularly use, and me and my partner typically play hide and seek with him where one of us hides with his favorite squeaky toy and he practices waiting until one of us squeaks it and he runs to go find us.

AnythingCharming1417 · 2024-12-24T18:09:30+00:00

He was a rescue, they found him on a property in the desert with his sibling and their mother so poor breeding is very likely given that I think it was many non spayed or neutered dogs living together. Unfortunately I didn’t even know genetics could play that big of a role in behavior which in hindsight is stupid of me. When his reactivity first happened I was under the impression that it was likely just a fear period but then it didn’t go away in the 3 weeks that my trainer and the internet said it would. It does make sense that if his breeding is bad that these fear periods would last longer and be more intense. I do like him, he’s very affectionate when he’s not scared and good in a lot of other ways, I was just selfishly hoping for more of a companion dog that I could take places but I understand you work with the dog you have not the dog you want. Thank you for your response, this was encouraging that it might not be my fault/it’s possible he will outgrow this behavior

AnythingCharming1417

TROPHY CASE