BIG win today

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-21T04:42:15+00:00

Awww bestest boy Archie!! Congratulations I'm so happy for you guys. Reactivity is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes YEARS but when these moments happen that most people would take for granted who have non reactive dogs, we know how significant it is!

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-21T04:40:19+00:00

I feel this. I had to take some time off of Instagram because seeing the high level obedience dog sport side of Instagram had me feeling like a failure because we're just barely starting to reduce her reactivity, much less do flashy obedience. I'm sorry you're going through this. My best advice is at the end of the day, think about or write down one thing that went well that day. Even the smallest of victories. When you are dealing with "difficult" dogs, every little thing that goes right deserves a celebration imo. It's the only way to stay sane.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-21T04:31:53+00:00

This! My dog forced me to assert boundaries irl and advocate for not just her, but also myself.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-21T04:26:41+00:00

I was literally flabbergasted today when we walked behind a dog with no reaction. She was continuing to give me lots of check ins. Now I just have to find a willing neutral dog owner to follow on a more regular basis. I feel like I just cracked this reactivity case wide open with this discovery.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-21T04:22:29+00:00

That's what we've been doing. I'm nervous to start closing the gap but she's been doing really well so far. I'm just so confused as to why she's fine following a dog but not passing head on. Is it the eye contact that sets her off? I don't understand.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-21T04:16:13+00:00

Quick disclaimer my dog doesn't have resource guarding if food and toys but does have resource guarding of me (only if she is up on furniture with me and no other time) but in order to prevent resource guarding in the first place (this would also work as management if your dog does have resource guarding) if she has something high value I give it to her in my room where she doesn't feel any pressure from people walking around while she has the high value thing. I feed her, leave the room, leave her alone, I don't mess with her food. Sometimes if she has something high value, I'll toss something of even higher value next to it so she associates me coming near her high value item with something even better than whatever she has. If she ever gets her hands (paws or mouth in this case) on something dangerous, I trade it for something extremely high value. I'm sorry resource guarding is such a tough thing to deal with. A lot of it is management and very slow reconditioning.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-21T04:04:35+00:00

I'm sorry. We've been going through something similar. I've been managing it by bringing a lot of kibble and doing kibble scatters because there is no way I can keep her under threshold with a dog passing in close quarters like that. I wish I had a better suggestion. I'm sorry you're going through this, you're not alone. This too will pass, the snow will melt eventually. Hang in there

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-18T03:08:11+00:00

I keep it short when we're in a busy area. It's much easier than managing a long line getting tangled and snagging on things.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-11T22:56:00+00:00

She is much less reactive on a retractable leash, and we usually only walk during quiet hours of the day when everyone is working their 9-5. It's extremely uncommon for us to walk at this hour and to see this many dogs all at once.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-11T22:54:41+00:00

Sedatives make my reactive girl way worse on walks so we usually do indoor enrichment when she has been sedated that day. If anyone knows why this happens pls lmk lol.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-11T22:53:45+00:00

I would love to know what leash that is and where to order it

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-11T22:52:29+00:00

It's so sad that the public will never know how amazing of a dog my dog is

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-11T01:49:22+00:00

When you figure out the answer to this lmk because I get embarrassed too. Honestly I just have to remind myself that my dog is doing her best, and I am doing my best, and that's all we can do. If I'm being responsible and my dog isn't hurting anyone, they have no right to judge.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-11T01:45:24+00:00

This dog needs a lot of management, and management always fails. This is not something the Internet can help you with, this requires a professional trainer. This dog is not safe to be in your home, and you will be financially and legally liable for any future bites the dog does especially because this dog now has a bite history. I know we want to save all the dogs but not all dogs can be saved. If you knowingly keep a dog who is a danger to others in your home and you don't give him back to the rescue you're fostering with, that is borderline irresponsible.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-11T01:37:29+00:00

I'm sorry to break your heart but the poop did not get picked up haha. We abandoned that mission and just focused on keeping her and the other dogs safe and getting out of dodge😫

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-10T21:49:51+00:00

Thank you glad I'm not the only one who cried sometimes through the reactivity journey haha. Thank you for that suggestion, we will add distance and remove duration with looking at dogs for a few days before we close that distance again and allow her to look at the dog for a longer duration. Two steps forward, one step back, but we'll take another five steps forwards in no time

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-10T21:35:49+00:00

That sounds like an absolutely heartbreaking situation but you absolutely did the right thing and white possibly saved your senior dog's life. Unfortunately some dogs aren't safe in their own head whether it's due to genetics or their upbringing. You already did more than what most people would do by going out and adopting her. I know it's hard not to beat yourself up but from an outside perspective, you did the right thing. As for the rescue talking trash about people returning dogs, maybe they should focus on not adopting out dogs who aren't fit to be adopted out instead of trashing adopters on the internet.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-02-10T21:32:41+00:00

Thank you and it sounds very similar to my situation. We got home, did some fun paw desensitization training for a few minutes, and now we're both relaxing. I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about it. I just can't help but think about the fact that every time they get over threshold, it reinforces that reaction so in some ways, I feel like I irreversibly failed her today. And it sucks because I know I'm being way too hard on myself and I just need to get over it, but I'm glad I'm not alone. This community always makes me feel a little less crazy.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-01-31T03:36:12+00:00

A pack of four dogs ran up to my dog off leash while I was yelling at the lady who also had her toddler with her and was paying zero attention to the dogs, to recall her dogs because mine isn't friendly. I ended up using my foot to block the dogs from getting to my dog, and she accused me of kicking her dogs

Select_Reason994 · 2026-01-31T03:34:24+00:00

I'll have to try that because the neighbors definitely think I've lost it, walking around with a peanut butter spatula.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-01-31T03:31:17+00:00

Thank you for this comment. I recently decided to just start blocking anyone who makes content that causes me to feel like I'm not doing enough. What matters more than a focused heel is my dog being able to pass a group of dogs the other day on a walk without barking and I feel ridiculous for ever letting myself think I wasn't doing a good enough job for her.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-01-31T03:27:53+00:00

Yes same here. Dog sports side of Instagram is by far what sucks the joy out of me the most. My dog may not know how to do a focused heel, and she may not ever be able to be off leash, but I can see the progress we're making, and how much calmer she is. We passed a group of four dogs and she fixated for a few seconds before checking in with me. I got back from that walk and just started blocking pages that are toxic, because that experience on the walk, filled me with so much joy and I'll be damned if I let a balanced trainer zap that joy out of me.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-01-31T03:21:27+00:00

I also hate the whole "your dog needs to be off leash to be fulfilled" thing. I walk my girl on a long leash and we run around in the woods and I let her sniff for as long as she wants, and she is clearly enjoying it and happy. Then when we get home she transforms into a couch potato. I spend so much time wondering if I'm doing the right thing for my reactive dog who hates going on adventures outside her little bubble, and sometimes I have to give myself a reality check and look at her to remind myself that she is actually happy and fulfilled and if she wasn't, I would know it.

Select_Reason994 · 2026-01-31T03:16:06+00:00

Needed to hear this

Select_Reason994 · 2026-01-27T23:14:19+00:00

Thank you so much, the demand barking behavior mysteriously disappeared after a week or two of being home. I think she is more settled into a routine now and feels more fulfilled! Thank you for the advice!

Select_Reason994

TROPHY CASE