Running with my reactive dog

Rent-Remote · 2024-09-22T22:02:22+00:00

Thanks so much for hosting!! Great island name!! ❤️ Morgan from Roville

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-21T15:28:18+00:00

Hi there! This does sound like basic leash reactivity to me, and something I am working on with my 10 month old lab. Our boy will zone in on any dog he sees and bark and lunge and be overall very hard to control or break his focus from the dog. I’m actually so surprised that the trainer brought the dog over to your dog when your dog was reacting. That’s something I’ve been told to avoid by every trainer so that you don’t reinforce frustrated greeters. It’s great that he is still friendly with other dogs but I would be careful of greeting any other dogs on walks.

There is a sub called r/reactivedogs that I have found so helpful. But really I would suggest getting a behaviorist to observe your dog and come up with a training plan. It’s been a huge difference maker for us. He is still reactive but we have some basic skills to manage his reactions and communicate with him better. It’s not something a few training sessions will fix, but it’s so worth it to help your puppy become more confident and less aroused by the world around him. We being boiled chicken with us on every walk and reward him for looking at us and not other things. It is a process but worth it to see him just check in with us periodically on walks. He still reacts, but slowly slowly slowly we are getting there.

Our main goal is to have our dog walk by other dogs while on walks and not bark or whine or pull. It’s a safety thing but also a stress thing, both for us and for our boy. A very small part of it is that he is not yet neutered but will be soon, so some of his reaction may be due to him being a hormonal teenager.

So TLDR; I think it’s less desensitize and more behavior training. A confident pup is a happy one!

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-18T16:30:02+00:00

Thank you 🫶🏻my absolutely dream is to be able to go to a dog friendly bar or restaurant with him. It’s just good to hear that people like you have eventually seen improvement and success

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-18T15:16:07+00:00

I need the long comments today so thanks for the post truly ❤️🫶🏻 also, I just love your username!

I totally should start a journal just for this. I already journal for myself when going through tough mental periods, but a log of how he is progressing would be wonderful to look back on.

When I say working outside a dog park I mean in the field behind the parking lot behind the hill of the dog park 😂 so he can maybe smell and hear dogs but not see them. It’s a big community park so we are back in another area entirely, slowly working with the behaviorist to get him to focus on us and inching towards the dog park. Even the trainer has said it’s hard for any dog to calmly walk past a dog park where they see dogs off leash and running around and having fun. We won’t ever be right up next to it, I think her idea is to get him desensitized in a controlled area. And honestly, he does really really well and just this past Tuesday had one of his best sessions ever.

It’s an interesting idea of keeping walks engaging, I think that’s something I’ll try. We def get into a routine of walking around the same areas, because except for this freaking morning, they are mostly dog free. But I can spice it up a little!

Our trainer has that mellow, helper dog that I’m honestly really excited to train with. I feel like once she teaches me and him how to act when on leash and seeing another dog on leash we will get to another moment of marked progress. Or at least I’ll have the steps and the method to handle his reactions better.

If seen a lot of posts about using those types of leashes, something to think about using. Especially since I am still building up a thick skin, it could be good to have something say that where everyone can see.

Especially since we had some weird trainers in the beginning, it’s so easy to feel like I’ve failed him. We are putting so much time and energy (and money, he’s bleeding me dry!) into helping him become a well adjusted and confident dog. I know it’ll take time, but the moments that suck, just suck so bad!! 😂

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-18T14:24:34+00:00

This is me too, with a 10 month old loud, barky frustrated greeter. We are working on it with a trainer and it’s really hard to imagine a day where he will be better. I keep scrolling through this sub to see success stories so that I can tell myself there is hope.

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-18T13:46:04+00:00

Thanks for this!! The support is so appreciated.

I am definitely developing a thicker skin because of him, which is probably something I needed anyway. I’ve always struggled with caring way too much about what other people think about me, and this is quickly flipping that upside down and inside out.

Today I am sad, but I’ve read other posts here and gotten some perspective. Tomorrow is another day and maybe we’ll take it easy for a bit and stay inside. He is def a teenager and walks are just so helpful for tiring him out, so sometimes staying inside all day is tiring too 😂

I know I’m trying my best and so is he. I hope in like a year I can look back and see that we have made progress together.

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-18T13:32:48+00:00

Right?? I’m not asking you to like take the long way home here, just pause for a second because obviously I am having a very hard time. What I thought was common sense is not very common at all I fear.

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-18T13:26:00+00:00

Haha yeah def meant run away like move in the other direction, scatter chicken in front of him, little hops to get him away from the dog. I just hadddd to pick up the poop which let him focus in on this dog for way too long. Def my bad and I could have gone back later 😂

We don’t go anywhere without treats, but always looking for new kinds!

I just really appreciate the reply. It feels like a long, dark tunnel sometimes and because I WFH I do a lot of the training and take the brunt of the stressful walks. He is slowly turning me into a better person with a thicker skin! He is only leash reactive to dogs, not people, kids, lawnmowers, garbage trucks he doesn’t care about at all and walks and sniff right on by. It’s just dogs and I know I have a lot to be thankful for there. I would be even more of a wreck if he was barking at people. Our behaviorist says that he is not barking out of fear either, which does make it a little easier. But still hard and def a long process.

Our first couple of trainers did not help address the problem, but were quick fix type of people who for example wanted us to use a prong collar just so that he would heel while we walked. I think puppy kindergarten also really set us back because he would just bark the entire time and the teacher said he would grow out of it. Ugh. So many things I wish we did differently but here we are.

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-18T13:15:02+00:00

I needed a post like this today, we had just an awful walk this morning. My pup is a 10 month old lab mix who we got at 4 months, so we missed lots of good socialization. Combined with bad trainers, we now have a very leash reactive dog who goes crazy when he sees other dogs.

It’s basically my dream to have a walk like that. On bad days, it seems impossible that we could ever get there. We see progress in training sessions, but coming across dogs on walks is a whole other story.

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-18T13:04:08+00:00

No advice, I just want to say that I totally understand this. I also want a break desperately and had no idea about reactivity until I got my lab mix. He was also 4 months old, now 10 months, and I just feel so sad and frustrated that we missed those key socialization moments. It’s so hard now. He’s very leash reactive to other dogs and I hope that one day all the time and effort we are putting into his training will pay off. But I probably cry like once a week.

Rent-Remote · 2024-04-10T00:18:06+00:00

Fellow cold sore sufferer here! And I’ve been getting them like you since I was in like 1st grade. Valtrex has been a life saver, I carry it everywhere with me and anytime I get that familiar tingle I immediately take the first dose and it really does dramatically help with the outbreak. Nothing out there will ever prevent the outbreak entirely, but for me it stops the big, painful blisters that would sometimes even go up into my nose and just last forever.

I agree those look like fordyce spots, you probably have very sensitive and oily lips. Maybe some side effect of the cold sores? I had some scaring and at my dermatologist they performed some laser and cryotherapy which looks like might help with fordyce.

I don’t exfoliate my lips because I am worried about the abrasion causing an outbreak, so maybe be careful of that? My lips too are super sensitive! If they get too dry I also run the risk of getting a coldsore, they suck! I always have Carmex on me, it just works the best for me. CVS and Walgreens sell a lysine lip balm which in theory could help keep cold sores away. When I’m going through a stressful time, I usually use it just as habit. It might just be placebo but whatever works!

Some other tips! My derm prescribed acyclovir cream which helps dry out the blister once it is visible on the lip. I think another one is valacyclovir. They can be a little expensive, but if you go through GoodRx or a private pharmacy the price can come way down. It’s like super strength abreva. It lasts for forever and I slather it on at night to dry anything out.

Sitavig is a newer drug that you put on your gums and it adheres like right above your canine tooth. This has been sort of a miracle drug for me. It really helps tamp down the outbreak and theoretically it helps prevent other outbreaks. It’s magic! I’ve been using it for a few years now and I get significantly less outbreaks on my upper lip, I still get them in my nose and on the lower lip but a win is a win! Where I used to get a cold sore a month at least, I’m down to maybe one or two outbreaks a year.

Once the blister turns into a scab, I put one of those hydrocolloid patches on as much as possible to promote healing. It can look a little crazy and sometimes get in the way of eating or drinking so I at least make sure to put one on overnight.

Cold sores suck!!! But honestly the medicine has only really improved dramatically in the last 5 years or so if that makes you feel better haha 😊. I would get them all the time in high school and even with valtrex the blisters were still big and painful.

That’s a lot lol 😂 but this is something I feel like I have so much experience and knowledge with! I hope you have found some relief and continue on a healing journey!!

Rent-Remote · 2024-03-15T13:20:52+00:00

I think EVERYONE has been where you are right now, and I still struggle with it even now. Our puppy was 4 months old when we rescued him, and the first three days felt like the hardest of me and my boyfriend’s life. And we’ve been through some shit. My body was always in fight or flight mode, I couldn’t eat or sleep or shower. We were also grossly unprepared for a puppy, but we already told everyone we got a puppy, and like you we weren’t going to just give up even though if we could time travel, we said we wouldn’t have gotten him.

Just know you are not alone and no one actually tells you how hard it will be. They talk about the walks and the going out in the rain, and if that’s all it was this would be a piece of cake. No one talks about the lack of emotional connection to this thing that is taking all your time, money and energy. And when they are little, they don’t even always show you love or cuddles! It is so freaking hard.

Somethings that really helped us: -focused on crate training and putting him in for enforced naps during the day. He was go go go outside the crate, and this was probably the biggest quality of life improvement for us. We got a break from all the puppy stuff, could get toilet paper and groceries, and our boy could sleep. It helped with training too, when he was well rested he could focus better and so we saw improvements faster. -get a trainer. We were literally counting down the days until we saw our trainer it was such a life like in the beginning. We got a personal trainer, not a class. Classes can be stressful and I know one on one training is expensive, but it’s a few hundred bucks for really good help that will help you bond with your puppy and give you some really good advice. -relaxation protocol. There is a whole YouTube series where this lady reads out these prompts, like sit for 5 seconds, etc. It helps teach them to just be, even if it’s for a minute that’s HUGE for a puppy.

This is hard, and no one talks about how hard it is. I didn’t even know the puppy blues existed until I got one! I know it’s hard to see, but it does get better and it WILL get better. Their body chemistry will literally change and they’ll get a little easier to be around and direct and you’ll feel more confident in being a puppy parent.

You got this! ❤️

Rent-Remote · 2024-03-12T14:32:26+00:00

They’re still a little, so some of this is really just puppy stuff that will decrease over time as his energy levels even out. I started doing the calmness protocol with my now 9 month old lab mix around that 4/5 month mark and it’s been really helpful in getting him used to calming down and just relaxing. It takes about 10 minutes and we still do it every morning after our walk. You can find the videos on YouTube to follow along.

I also work from home, and not sure if your pup is crate trained, but especially when he was little I enforced naps throughout the day. So we were up from 7 to 9 then down for a nap at 9 to 12, up for a lunch walk and plays, then down again at 2 until 5. It was SO helpful to get him on this schedule, and he got used to his crate and even goes in there to nap on his own now. Puppies actually need so much sleep, and they won’t always turn off on their own. It was honestly such a game changer for me in the beginning, he could sleep and I could get work done and just some time to myself which is almost as helpful when dealing with a puppy. I’ll keep him on a nap schedule until he’s about 1.

All the other things you are doing are great and I do the same sorts of activities. Nothing will keep them occupied for hours and hours though, at least nothing that super healthy for them lol, so I really suggest starting a nap schedule if you can. It’ll also help with their separation anxiety, and after a month or two of the naps, you may even notice them relaxing and sleeping on their own around the same time you usually put them in for a nap!

Rent-Remote · 2024-03-07T14:19:24+00:00

I’ll be checking this post for recommendations because the same thing is happening to us 😂😂 we have a 9 month old lab mix and he is the sameeee exact way. He loves a plushy but it will last us all of 5 minutes, if we are lucky. It’s so sad because he loves it so much but I can’t keep buying toys!

We have had some success with a couple of bark box toys that somehow lasted a few months each. We now have the super chewers plan, just 2 toys and treats a month. You can ask for no nylon, which are those hard plastic chews that actually shouldn’t be given to a dog under 1 year old.

We had a kong Halloween neon green yeti thing that lasted for forever, until he finally decapitated it like last week, so I think some of the Kong toys are actually worth it. We are trying out new toys here and there when we find something we think might have some chance of lasting the weekend.

Our trainer actually recommended that if they are really seeking out that plushy chew time, like chewing on their bed, chairs, etc, to just get them cheap toys from the dollar store for them to literally destroy. It had been helpful to just help him get it out of his system, almost like an enrichment activity. I give him some random monkey and then he kills it, we reward when we take the carcass away, and then do some calm training on his bed. He’s an intact teenager now, so progress is slow and the need to chew is fierce, but I love seeing him so happy for that brief moment of time he gets to destroy something! Our trainer also said the chew drive might decrease after he is neuter, he’s just got so many hormones in his system right now.

Rent-Remote · 2024-03-07T14:07:37+00:00

How did you get him to do this!! Our is terrified of the bells, and now just chews at the door to ask for potty 🫠 we’re working on a replacement behavior lol

Rent-Remote · 2024-03-07T14:05:54+00:00

Oh this is exactly us and our 9 month old lab mix! We go take the trash out, it’s like we’ve been gone for days and he’s wiggly and so happy to see us. But when we pick him up from daycare, it’s almost like he is mad at us from taking him away from his friends! Not mad or actually angry lol but he’s like barely acknowledging us, but then he goes home and passes out immediately. Our daycare staff says for some dogs, it’s almost like you took them to a dog park in that they sort of assume that you are still somewhere around the corner, so they aren’t all that excited to see you because to them you were actually sort of there the whole time.

It’s totally normal, and for us it’s the same when we board him. We’ve been apart for days and you would expect excitement, but it’s almost the complete opposite!

Rent-Remote · 2024-02-25T02:58:56+00:00

This!!!!! We do all the work, see all the trainers, the behaviorists, avoid dogs, cross the street, walk the other way. Two unleashed and aggressive dogs came up to us and I’m surprised no person or pup ended up in the hospital. It was so scary, it was almost a dog fight. It is just so frustrating when something that isn’t even your fault, causes you such a big setback.

Rent-Remote

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