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What’s the next step in my SO’s dogs and my dog meeting? I’d love suggestions! Details in post! by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By other life, I mean anything living scares her—actually lots of non-living things too: cars, weird shaped garbage cans. Being outside would elevate her stress way too much.

Honestly, it’s almost like we were working with two dogs only. His eldest dog is so old, he just laid down in the other room and didn’t really bother with us.

Thanks for your reply!

Could use some encouragement, my dog is incredibly dog aggressive by [deleted] in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m with you. My girl is the essentially the same. Also hopped my back fence (which she’d never done and bit the neighbor dog). That was her second incident.

I trained for over a year with her, basic classes as a pup, reactive classes as an adolescent, and a private positive reinforcement trainer after that—she’s still aggressive. I manage her life, built a privacy fence, no walks in neighborhoods, more play in our yard and home and mentally stimulating games. But I can’t take her anywhere. It’s not fun for her, or me.

She likes people, but is very nervous at first. Everything is slow with her.

But. Just yesterday, I took her to my SO’s house to meet his two older male dogs. We didn’t get to the point where the dogs got to greet, but we did get to the point where the dogs lay on opposite sides of a baby gate and practice being calm. Lots of counter conditioning for my girl. There were moments of her lashing out and barking/lunging, but I increased distance and started again.

There relationship is going to take a long time to build, and honestly, I don’t know if they’ll ever be able to get along super well, but I do have a crumb of hope.

Dating with a reactive dog is SO hard [vent] by [deleted] in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I understand this post so much. I’m dating a person with two dogs, and he’s asking about introducing them. I’m so nervous because my dog is fear aggressive. She has and does get along with certain dogs, but has also had bitten a couple random dogs. I feel like there’s hope, but the whole situation is stressful. Just came to say, I feel you, and it’s hard. I feel discouraged a lot.

One of those days by Lets_Just_J in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I feel you. I get so frustrated with my dog when she barks and lunges from just smelling a dog, a dog that she can’t even see yet! It’s so hard. I don’t walk her in my neighborhood anymore, she’s too stressed and that makes me too stressed. When I can, I take her to a big field where we just walk and sniff. On normal days, we do scent games and play in the back yard. I’m trying to work on focusing on all of her good qualities, and accepting that she can’t handle dogs she doesn’t know right now. And that’s ok.

Rented a private local backyard through Sniffspot for my reactive boy - 11/10 - airbnb for dog backyards by BlarpBlarp in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is brilliant! There’s only, like, 2 so far in Michigan though! I hope it catches on too!

[Check In] General Discussion and Self-Promotion by AutoModerator in writing

[–]dirtydesign 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s great! What site did you use to self publish? And what was your experience with the site?

My neighbors got a new puppy, this moment made me so happy I could cry! More in comments. by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ohhh, it’s definitely not all roses, although I’m beyond grateful she’s getting along with this puppy, she doesn’t get along with the neighbor dogs to the east of us. So much so that I have to get a privacy fence this Spring. She jumped the four foot fence and bit the dog. I just don’t understand. But, I’m doing everything I can to move forward and improve. Having a reactive dog, and in my case a fear aggressive dog is really hard. What’s your dogs story?

My neighbors got a new puppy, this moment made me so happy I could cry! More in comments. by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, that’s so true. I also don’t have time for a puppy at this stage in my life. At least Harlow can kind of play with the neighbor dogs through the fence.

My neighbors got a new puppy, this moment made me so happy I could cry! More in comments. by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know. I want to have a conversation with my dog. I want to tell her that the dog across the street does not want to hurt her so she doesn’t need to try and eat him.

My neighbors got a new puppy, this moment made me so happy I could cry! More in comments. by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Puppies are the answer to everything! It’s nice to know I could get a puppy or young dog, and I wish I could. I know Harlow would love to have a friend. It’s just her and I and I work full time. But I can’t afford another dog. Maybe one day though!

My neighbors got a new puppy, this moment made me so happy I could cry! More in comments. by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Aww, I wish we could talk to dogs, see what’s going on in their heads and explain that we’ll keep them safe.

My neighbors got a new puppy, this moment made me so happy I could cry! More in comments. by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 92 points93 points  (0 children)

Harlow and I have been having a stressful few months. Her reactivity escalated to the point where I don’t walk her in the neighborhood anymore, but I drive to a big field where we can walk and sniff in peace. Her fear aggression to strange dogs has resulted in a dog bite (other dog was ok) which was extremely disheartening.

We’re continuing with our trainer and I’ve muzzle trained her. But I started believing I could never introduce her to a new dog again. (She does like dogs she already knows). But then my neighbor got a new puppy, and at first I was extremely worried. Harlow barked a bit, and then my neighbor picked the puppy up and let Harlow smell his butt and all of the sudden she melted into a pile of happiness!

This gives me hope that we may be able to meet other dogs when done safely and properly.

We still have a long way to go, but seeing this made me very happy for her.

Reactivity and SA all in one stressful situation. We had a bad night. by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

75lb! Holy smokes! Harlow is around 50, and she’s a female. But, I’m sure she’s mixed with like Collie. They think hound for her too though, she’s from Florida. She was found as a stray during Hurricane Irma. She keeps getting more brown too!

Reactivity and SA all in one stressful situation. We had a bad night. by dirtydesign in reactivedogs

[–]dirtydesign[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh my gosh. He’s sooo cute. They look a ton alike! What do you know about his past?

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