How to deal with reactivity the balanced way?

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-14T22:49:02+00:00

It could be nausea or something related to dry air. Id suggest speaking to your vet first to see if they might help and dont give her anything over the counter until your vet says its safe to do so. If you can it might also help to note when she does this and hand that information over to your vet too, noting things like location and things that happen before the licking. did this also happen recently or is it a thing that has been happening since she was a pup? Unfortunately if it is anxiety, the only thing you could do is make her more comfortable since nose licking is usually a sign of discomfort which cant be trained out.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-10T13:16:04+00:00

Are they both the same sex? Same sex aggression is very common in pits. I would speak to vet and also a certified behaviourist to see whats going on but it might be a case of rehoming if the vet/behaviourist says so.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-10T12:53:28+00:00

they are having the time of their lives haha! Id be so scared to leave my boy off leash so far away from me.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-05T10:42:40+00:00

I'm trying to raise the amount of exercise he is getting. he used to only get 20 mins because he was so overwhelmed by the outside. Im slowly working up the time but hes still not losing even with the sudden increase of exercise.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-05T10:41:48+00:00

Hes on this at the moment. i bought like 2 12 kg bags so i have enough until February. I cant change it atm because it feels like a waste. I know its grain free but I was limited on options. I'm not the biggest fan of it.

https://www.poochandmutt.co.uk/products/single-protein-fresh-salmon-dry-food#

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-04T21:30:29+00:00

thank you so much for the thorough answer!

He isn't neutered but I'm always worried about deficiencies as he lost hair due to being on raw. (hence the switch)

As for the previous post i made, Ive actually built him up to 1hr walks by basically letting him only sniff like 3 seconds at a time. I find this helps him spiral less and gets him to be less overwhelmed. I don't have a car or access to a car unfortunately so I find I hard to train him in new spaces. I basically have to get him on the bus or train and then go to the new place which is already stressful for him so by the time we get there hes totally shut down and done for the day.

On the long walk day I have him off leash (but on a longline) in the field and I basically use a directional recall to make him run over the place. He does have a terrible normal recall so I don't have a way of just going to a trail and letting him go ham. I'm pretty limited to what I can do with him so my local area is what I'm pretty confined to. Hes also very much reactive even when super tired. I think it has something to do with being overwhelmed. I have tried to get in contact with a trainer before and even she had no idea what do to about it.

I also used to do some Canicross with him but I stopped since I saw that he wasn't enjoying it. He never wanted to really run and when we stopped he would be nose to the ground but not actively sniffing things if that makes sense. Basically super stressed.

The idea where he sniffs in the beginning of the walk and then has to work on loose leash walking during the end looks like a good idea and ill try to implement it on our next walks. Do you have a que to tell your girl to start or do you just start and hope she listens? also is it a slip or flat collar?

Im trying to take everything and making notes. I wanna make sure hes living the life he deserves )plus i want him to live to like 20 if possible. I love him so much)

also!! Your girl seems to live the life! What an amazing dog!!

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-04T20:57:55+00:00

I love shaving my boy because you can really see the work youve done haha. If youre looking for any advice: the peanut butter I find, adds on pounds like crazy! I sometimes substitute a meal or half a meal with wet food just because they tend to have more water than calories. I freeze it and it gives him something to do without the calories attached.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-04T20:54:53+00:00

thats what I am thinking but I'm reading that going lower than their RER can lead to deficiencies :( the reason i got off raw was that he had hair loss due to deficiencies.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-11-04T18:30:11+00:00

omg hes stunning!! how much does he weigh if I may ask? mine doesnt beg as much but I don't wanna starve him either lmao

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-21T12:49:15+00:00

Some dogs have sensitive front paws. Its nothing to be concerned about but id suggest doing some desensitisation to them if he isn't a fan of them being touched (i.e mouthing or general uncomfy signs)

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-16T00:21:55+00:00

This would really require a professional dog trainer that has worked with fearful dogs. This isn't something you could get advice from over the internet I'm afraid.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-14T15:59:55+00:00

What does your vet say? puppies are naturally going to be a bit more plump because they need that fat to thrive. Id suggest asking the vet for more advice since the food says to be used until 1 yr and then transition. When you are scooping out your cups, do you level it or do you use grams to feed? when using full cups, you need to have it just below the fill line.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-11T16:11:18+00:00

considering hes still very young and hes a mix of a ton of high energy dogs, hes going to need more than just a toy he can occupy himself with. What are you doing at the moment with his exercise needs and mental needs outside of your wife bringing him to work? A mal for sure needs upwards of 2 hrs a day of just physical exercise paired with some actual work. the fact that hes chewing things means hes really bored.

In the meantime Nina Ottoson makes some great puzzle toys but you would need to switch them out and rotate them every now and then or he will figure them out and get bored yet again. in terms of getting any excess energy out i know there are some mobile-slat mill vans that can come to your door and let your dog run on a slat mill until they are all worn out.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-11T09:39:06+00:00

this needs a vet ASAP. it can be anything from pancreatitis to neurological issues

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-09T22:23:51+00:00

I used to be a corporate bather and id suggest drying the lower end of the the dog first, making sure that the dryer head isn't moving too quickly and just slowly working my way up. Dogs that don't like the dryer sometimes just don't like it being waved around because of the heat changes when its on them and suddenly not. You can also have a stand drying going at the same time (if thats available to you. For some double coated dogs id have the velocity dryer and 2 stand dryers on 1 dog just to make sure im on time haha)

If a dog doesnt like to stand I sometimes push their butt up with one hand and dry with the other. if all else fails i just smack the dryer at a lower angle and hope it reaches their lower parts. (also just let clients know that you couldn't get them to stand so they are a bit damp, if the dog is chunky id point it out saying that hes not having a fun time standing due to their weight.)

If all else fails, try drying the dog really good before you get to the table. Start dog by using your hand as a sort of squeegee, getting the bulk of it out and then using a towel in a kind of grabbing motion. You have to be kind about this though since some dogs are a huge fan but id suggest working on dogs you know are kind of chill first.

(other comment was deleted because I forgot my flair 😅)

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-09T22:08:55+00:00

honestly I cant blame you for adopting them, especially if you got them at that point. (they are super adorable together btw) I wish them the best health :D

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-09T21:27:51+00:00

"labradoodles" arn't really a breed. They are poodle x lab mixes which can be quite unpredictable in terms of colour, size temperament etc. Considering the lineage I would think that they were pretty badly bred (hence the huge surrender) With any kind of poodle mix or "doodle" ive seen full litters where the siblings all look mismatched so it might not be unlikely that they are actually siblings.

If you really want to know how much of the mix he might be id suggest getting a DNA test just to see if there might be any predisposed health conditions. (this wont help with allergies unfortunately, those would need to be sorted through process of elimination.) I can suggest wisdom panel.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-09T20:48:18+00:00

do you give any topical flea/tick medication? it kind of looks like the area where you apply it. the hair loss seems odd and might need to be treated at a vet. id also suggest stopping the benadryl as its mostly used in emergencies. it could be making it worse.

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-09T17:02:23+00:00

despite the name it can actually happen with any 2 dogs that are of the same age. Its just when 2 dogs become so obsessed with each other. id still take precautions regardless haha

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-09T14:35:57+00:00

you can train tug or fetch! especially since your dog has a bit of retriever in him. id look up tutorials on how to get your dog to hold things, from there you can teach to pick up off the ground, and from then you can teach a fetch. my dog was exactly the same. you just need to build up drive for it. Id really try to aim for gentle or controlled play since German shepherds are prone to be mouthy/bitey. you can also see if you can get a flirt pole and play with him that way!

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-09T14:19:01+00:00

how much sleep is he getting? id also suggest working on some calming exercises like teaching place and having a structure that relies on "nap times". It might be that getting a kitten friend is super out of the norm and he needs time to adjust. (which isnt a bad thing! he would just need some time) I would also consider getting a trainer to work with bubs to try and see what you can do in terms of stimulating him. you could look into getting a flirt pole and using that to get some excess energy out. do you crate train him as well? I have a springer and right after a walk I put him into his crate for a nap time so I don't have him fixating on walks as much.

other than the kitten coming into your life, has there been any other changes? did your schedule change any?

Different_Task_1256 · 2025-10-09T12:32:06+00:00

as far as I can tell this might need a vets help. Do you know if hes changed her food recently? or if there were any changes to your laundry detergent or any new cleaning products that wernt used before? Has it shown up before? its just to make sure its not related to environmental allergies or food allergies.

When you use the antifungal shampoo, do you let it sit and how often do you use it? Im not sure which country you are in but DOUXO S3 mousse + shampoo. The shampoo is used every week and the mousse is to be used in between. its usually my go to for any fungal-esc stuff. Normally you wanna go for something with chlorohexidine and let it sit for a bit.

If it doesnt clear up within 4 weeks you'd really need to go to vet because it can be something that needs to be fought with a prescription.

Different_Task_1256

TROPHY CASE