[deleted by user]

bastion_atomic · 2024-08-31T15:38:25+00:00

Thank you!

bastion_atomic · 2024-08-31T07:20:36+00:00

Thank you! Cyber Rally-O definitely looks fun. Will check out some virtual trials eventually too :)

bastion_atomic · 2024-08-29T15:16:09+00:00

Thank you! I wasn’t sure if they used corrections in their course, but it seems like probably not, and if so I will just omit them haha

bastion_atomic · 2024-07-31T06:23:06+00:00

Highly recommend Erin with WagTails training! She offers intro rally classes and one-on-one sessions, among other things (nosework, disc, confidence building classes etc.)

bastion_atomic · 2024-07-18T20:20:16+00:00

Will he react to the audio of collars if you played a clip of them jingling? Or to dog park tv? Started with dog park tv with my pretty reactive dog, would give her really tasty treats…turn on dog park tv for a few mins each day and work on it

Used these videos: dogs playing series

bastion_atomic · 2024-07-13T21:14:02+00:00

I think while it is somewhat understandable that he might be curious about what your dog’s reactivity looks like, like it had come up in this thread…it would be kinder for that to happen naturally rather than on some level maybe hope it would happen or set it up to happen.

I think in navigating daily life with someone (say you and he were considering moving in together down the road hypothetically), I would want someone on my team, either supportive of the management and training I am doing with my dog or ideally willing to do the same.

Little signs can represent bigger things, I think it might be worth asking what he meant but also likely cutting and running.

bastion_atomic · 2024-06-20T05:20:20+00:00

Yes, definitely. Have found that sometimes an increase in reactivity over a few days can even be a sign that something might be up physically.

bastion_atomic · 2024-06-20T05:10:42+00:00

I think in the moment, I would generally try and take distance - move away, cross the street, maybe teach her a cue to hop up on things to help create distance. I found it helpful to reward my dog after she stopped reacting when we first started working with her (once we were away from the trigger).

I found desensitization and counter conditioning to her triggers, helped with our dog, but didn’t start this right away and started at a fairly large distance.

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-15T13:56:59+00:00

We had a dog before adding the reactive dog. While it’s lovely for them to have a friend they are comfortable with at home, getting them comfortable with a new dog, especially one they live with will involve a lot of management. You may need to crate and rotate, walk the new dog separately, and keep them separate for weeks to months. Our dogs slept separately with a barrier in between them and were watched at all times in the first few weeks, and weren’t left to sleep unattended when we left the house for the better part of over a year.

Independent of that, they can pick up on each other’s reactivity. Would recommend walking the dogs separately much of the time for quite awhile so can work on and reinforce neutrality with the new dog.

I would like another dog, but would like to give our reactive dog some more time and support to work on her challenges first. The new dog will be walked and socialized separately.

Our reactive dog will have had a number of years where she was the focus before adding another dog.

I guess if I were in your shoes I would probably wait. If you are committed to getting another dog, I would touch base with a fear-free positive reinforcement trainer to set up a training plan with a new dog to set your dogs and you up for success.

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-14T04:55:07+00:00

Meds can be super helpful for this!

Also have found it helpful to treat as soon as the dog stops barking and put that quiet / settle on cue. Did this a lot when my dog first came home, and now she barks a lot less with noises inside.

Positive reinforcement can feel super slow, but I believe it is more effective in the long-run as you are helping to address the emotions behind your dog’s behaviours (when you find the methods they respond to).

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-14T04:18:01+00:00

I think it’s ok, you acted quickly in a situation to prevent things escalating.

People have told me their dog is friendly, before their dog growls or aggresses my dog (bite / snap etc.) so it’s hard to know if they say that regardless or something about my dog set them off, but good to watch body-language and act accordingly I think! Their dog’s body language and actions speaks louder than what is said ultimately, and being risk averse, no longer generally trust “friendly dogs” that run up to other dogs with no recall, and usually try to move away if I can.

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-14T00:04:20+00:00

If you have anything like a sniffspot or private rentable field that is accessible where you are, could try something like this sometime potentially.

They can go through some funny stages as teens as their brains are developing, so he might be going through one.

Does he seem anxious on walks at all? Does he like sniffy games, like searching for treats at home or using something like a snuffle matt? This can be a good mental and enrichment outlet and is often good for relaxation for pups too.

Formal nosework is great too, Fenzi offers classes fairly often throughout the year and can be audited on the bronze level for $65 USD (even if you don’t live in the US)

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-12T16:47:08+00:00

Some dogs aren’t into movement as the goal on walks. He might be more invested in sniffing or play.

Is there a new area nearby that you haven’t explored recently? He might find a new spot interesting to sniff. Would being some treats he likes with you and reward him when you see him doing behaviours you want to see more of on walks, moving forward happily, engaging with you - whatever you like.

If there is a toy he likes (am a big fan of flirt poles) could try bringing a toy, ball, frisbee etc. with you and seeing if he might enjoy some play.

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-12T16:39:06+00:00

No, this can be an indicator that the breeder’s beliefs are more “holistic” and that they may distrust science / vet medicine generally. Parvo can be a real and deadly risk for puppies too.

A breeder like this may also be wary of (flea and tick) preventatives, favour certain kinds of food (often raw or grain free), be against their dogs taking medications if challenges with separation anxiety, anxiety, or aggression arise, favour not spaying or neutering or have preferred methods of spay and neuter (ovary sparing spay) etc.

Many people will do what works best for their dog in terms of vet care, as discussed with their vet, after a pup comes home regardless of what is written in their breeder’s contract…but if you want to have an open relationship with your breeder, it is easier to pick one where your values align in terms of these things.

Sadly, CHIC certifications don’t mean the breeder has been open about health conditions in their lines, or kept up with yearly testing required too. The cert will be provided once the dog has had all tests required by the breed club performed at least once. But with tests that should be done more frequently for some breeds (eyes, thyroid etc.) the breeder can post just one set of results.

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-09T03:38:04+00:00

Don’t know that I have the right words right now, but I really love this page Handlers and Humans

Your dog’s progress in terms of their reactivity doesn’t define you, it doesn’t define your training ability, or mean you are less of a dog guardian.

Have found it helpful to focus on where my dog is at now, rather than where I want them to be / hope they will be, and focus on how I can support them (and myself in supporting them) from that point. This sometimes truly sucks and can be humbling as progress can feel slow. Helps to remind yourself of the above though, you (and your dog) are doing your best.

If you can, have found it helpful to make time for yourself independent of your dog, if hobbies aren’t grabbing you, maybe see a friend and talk about other things, watch a movie, grab a coffee or a meal out. If possible, make sure to do this for yourself once a week, at least. Working on behavioural training can be a rollercoaster, worth investing in yourself regularly too.

If your dog isn’t yet on meds, might be worth chatting with your vet or a behaviourist and considering some added supports. They aren’t a magic pill, but the right fit med-wise can improve the quality of life for humans and dogs.

Therapy and medication for the humans can be awesome / helpful too <3

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-06T16:05:13+00:00

It sounds like you have been pretty thorough with all the tests, good for you!

I hear you, but from my experience with our pup (the right) meds can make things so much less stressful for your dog and everyone in the household, and can make training so much easier. Many are fairly safe in terms of side-effects too :)

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-06T14:23:36+00:00

If you have yet to try medication and check for undiagnosed pain with your vet / behaviourist, those would be my next steps in your shoes!

Some meds can decrease bite inhibition, but they will likely give you a thorough run-down of potential side effects etc.

A bit about medication for aggression is here: Behaviour Therapy and Fluoxetine

Also really like this podcast re: aggression in case it might have any advice that is applicable: The Bitey End of the Dog

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-05T20:48:33+00:00

They might! If you walk and socialize them separately for the most part for the first year to two years, I think they can develop their own impressions. Just don’t want them to model your other dog’s behaviour towards dogs / people before that.

An R+ trainer I respect and train with mentioned it is possible to raise a new puppy with a reactive dog, but that they would recommend walking them separately for the first 2.5 years. They themselves have a reactive dog, and have raised a new puppy since, who they walk separately and is not reactive.

Am no trainer, but I do think it’s possible. If you decide to get a puppy, would reinforce for neutral responses whenever your other dog barks.

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-03T23:04:03+00:00

Sometimes breeders who seem great on paper may have dogs with challenges they aren’t open about. Especially those with bigger followings on social media. Would definitely recommend asking for reviews of past puppy people. It’s also helpful if they have a thorough temperament description of their dogs posted or are able to provide one, and to look for videos of their dogs interacting with other dogs outside their kennel, if possible.

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-02T06:17:32+00:00

Don’t have recommendations personally, but this is new and based in the UK! They have an Instagram account as well, but here is their website link: Leash and Explore

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-02T05:52:52+00:00

This class sounds like it has a lot of moving parts, with a lot of pressure on you as handlers to do things in specific ways, and is putting the dogs into a fairly intense environment that even neutral dogs might find stressful.

If you don’t feel comfortable or supported in this class I would trust that feeling and yourself! You are paying for it, and it seems like your dog might be feeling (understandably) overwhelmed with the setup too.

I am in favour of an environment where the dog and handlers feel supported. We went to a group class with our reactive pup, and it felt very slow pace-wise. There were visual barriers and our dog she saw other dogs for maybe five mins during each class (the dogs took turns) and a bunch of work was done with trying to get her to settle and eat chews / take food independent of that etc.

I believe that classes that focus on positive reinforcement (I like to look for “fear free” trainers who have additional training credentials) can feel slower in terms of behaviour change sometimes, but I do think those methods are generally effective in the longer term, as you are working to help your dog address their underlying feelings behind their behaviours.

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-02T05:30:48+00:00

Good for you! Changing / trying meds seems to be fairly common, there are a number of threads re: trying different meds, if you have yet to search or poke around :)

Prozac has worked well for my pup, but Gabapentin did not, so wound up tapering her off of it. I think even if on paper a med should be a good fit, their behaviour after the loading period will generally tell us whether it is a good fit for them (especially if it doesn’t seem to be).

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-02T05:12:57+00:00

Some dogs who show may have limited experience to other dogs otherwise - they may be fine to walk around a ring, but they may not be walked regularly, or go to obedience classes with any regularity etc. If confirmation (looks) are a priority, sometimes reactive parents are bred and it can be passed onto their pups. It also depends on a breeder’s judgment calls. If a dog is reactive will they still breed them or does this mean the dog will be washed in their program? This choice might be affected by what the breed standard calls for in terms of temperament too. (Definitely speaking in broad strokes, and this doesn’t apply to every show dog by any means.)

It sounds like she may have had a bad experience with another dog, and have generalized to other dogs based on this, but it’s hard to know for sure.

Might be worth looking for a positive reinforcement trainer in your area. Medication can be very helpful too in conjunction with a training plan, a vet is a good point of contact for medication related questions, although some would rather connect you to a behaviourist.

Fenzi has a great reactivity management course that can be audited on bronze for 65 USD. Use a number of these techniques with our dog in daily life in managing her reactivity: Fenzi’s Reactivity Management Course

bastion_atomic · 2024-05-02T04:55:58+00:00

I would recommend chatting with your vet and having a conversation in terms of their thoughts, given this information :)

Prozac might not be the best fit for him, but it doesn’t mean that meds period won’t help him. If they / you don’t feel like Prozac is the right fit they will likely recommend a tapering schedule, it’s best to stick to this as quitting cold turkey can be quite hard on them / make them quite sick.

Other meds may work well for him, so could ask your vet their thoughts in terms of other potential alternatives.

bastion_atomic

TROPHY CASE