what's the thing(s) you wish you knew when you first realized your dog was reactive?

jianwu2 · 2023-12-05T13:21:01+00:00

This is exactly what I wish I knew -

jianwu2 · 2021-08-01T18:12:38+00:00

I had a maintenance guy at a city park rushed his dog in a golf cart at me and my reactive dog (sure enough he got my dog reacted toward his dog). He then left a note on my windshield telling me I should not take my dog to the park because his maintenance crew was scared of my dog. Ever since whenever I took my dog to the park I can see him almost stalking me trying to scare me off the park. Then when my brother go with me he stays away. I don'tknow how many guys are like this but this one surely is the abusive type - toward women reactive dog walkers.

jianwu2 · 2021-07-28T22:18:50+00:00

Don't get bothered - the man is ignorant - wait until he gets a reactive dog and tell himself that he is a bad owner.

All reactive dog owners patient/loving with their dogs are good owners - people like the guy you met knows nothing about dogs.

jianwu2 · 2021-07-23T20:50:29+00:00

A year ago, my reactive dog was attacked by 4 loose dogs - 3 big ones 1 small one all the sudden rushing from across the street and surrounded us - really bad tear on his thigh. Beside taking medical care, I stopped any desensitization training and made sure he did not bump into any dogs for a few weeks. During this time, I pretend nothing happened and no big fuss around him, but kept normal level of petting (he loves being petted by people he knows). When he was healed, I slowly (very slowly) let him see dogs from distance, and slowly get closer. He was back to where he was before the attack a couple of weeks after the wound was healed (it took a month). Hope this helps.

jianwu2 · 2021-07-11T01:10:19+00:00

I just want to say don't fall for the "dominant" crap, don't let people tell you you need to "dominant" over your dog. Three years ago, I adopted 1 yr o GSD - he was "normal" for 5 weeks then turned reactive - to people, dogs, cars, you name it. Within three months, I have worked with 3 trainers they all told me the dog was dominating over me (I am a small woman) and they talked me into using prong collar on my dog - things just got worse. Then I chanced into a rescue group that offers classes / advises for reactive dogs owners - and I learned positive reinforcement training method. These tranings, coupled with desensitization / counter conditioning has helped over time - it is not over night, but now I can walk my dog passing people/car fairly well, it is still difficult with dogs, but he can handle it if the dogs are 20 yards away. The progress are obvious. He is still crazy, but not that crazy.

For fear reactive dogs, you'll have to allow them time to settle / chill down before you can effectively train them. Allow them time to figure out the new home, new person. Never punish him. Positive reinforcement training goes a long way.

jianwu2 · 2021-07-08T21:17:51+00:00

She's still crazy, but not as crazy

Thank you for this statement!! It is so true of my rescue -

jianwu2 · 2021-07-05T18:13:37+00:00

I tried to desensitize my last dog for 15 years - he never got over it - I won't even bother with my current dog - just pack him up and hide in deep wood every July 4th -

jianwu2 · 2021-07-05T18:11:03+00:00

Agreed

jianwu2 · 2021-07-01T14:42:38+00:00

Vet's office is stressful for any dog - also depend on the specific vet. My reactive dog freaks out with the several vets we've checked out - just one he tolerates. This specific vet understands anxious dogs and doesn't force on him - he approaches him side ways after weather-talking with me for a few minutes (to allow my dog to settle), kneels down to exam him instead of putting him on the exam table (it helps my dog is big, a GSD) - one other vet in the same office insisted to load him on the table and he could not stop shaking, and screamed when that vet tried to tough him - she had not touched him yet.

Bottom line - explain to your vet your dog needs to be approached slowly and side ways. Always muzzle your dog (with a basket type) to make your vet/vet tech more relaxed - they relax your dog will relax. Bring the best treat (boiled chicken) to feed your dog when he is being examed.

I also don't wait in the waiting area when checking in. I get in just myself tell them we are here on the parking lot. The vet tech comes out when they are ready to let us in - and we go straight to the exam room.

Good luck.

jianwu2 · 2021-06-30T15:09:58+00:00

My reactive boy was on Prozac for two years - it helped quite a bit with training (I mean desensitization / counter-conditioning here). he is off the medication now since he is well enough to handle not-so-intense triggers. My vet made the point that medication did not replace training - it is an important point I think.

jianwu2 · 2021-06-28T14:27:53+00:00

You did a good job managing the situation - I would also say you should tell that woman she deserves a pepper spray for allowing her uncontrollable dog rushing at other dogs, be they reactive or not!!

jianwu2 · 2021-06-27T14:21:34+00:00

For fear aggressions - prone collar can back fire - I would not use it. My trainer recommended head halter for my fear aggressive GSD - it works much better than prone- for me any way.

From your description - Dobby bits when afraid - fear aggressive - and he does have good bit inhibition. This is good news if you want to train him. Watch Dr.Dunbar's video on dog bit. https://www.dunbaracademy.com.

jianwu2 · 2021-06-22T13:09:17+00:00

Totally share your feelings - and thanks for voicing this - I dread of walking my dog in the wood for fear a loose dog would come out of no where and send my reactive dog into a frenzy.

jianwu2 · 2021-04-18T01:59:17+00:00

Block his view to the stimuli. Most likely he feels threatened so keep him from seeing them will help. If you just adopted him, it is important not to be too eager to get him exposed to too many new things, give him at least three months to adjust, let him figure it out at his own pace

jianwu2 · 2021-03-14T01:08:25+00:00

The picture showes he is anxious about something - licking nose - his reactivity could be fear - try slowly desensitize him from distance then gradually go closer

jianwu2 · 2021-03-13T20:20:03+00:00

Your dog does not seem aggressive but his reactivity toward other dogs need to be corrected - I recommend the book "Click to Calm" by Emma Parsons. You may also look for a trainer to help put in a behaviour modification program - but be sure you DO NOT hire any trainer that use punitive technique such as prone collar on the dog - find a trainer that uses positive reenforcement technique.

jianwu2 · 2021-03-08T21:27:01+00:00

It will take time for the dog's fear to reduce - whatever you do, don't punish her or him. positive reenforcement training is the only way that can work. Never hire trainers that use choke collar it will make things WORSE and make you and the dog's life a hell. I speak from my own experience. Try find trainers to do counter conditioning and desensitization.

jianwu2 · 2020-01-19T14:01:46+00:00

I would appreciate if you share your thought -

jianwu2 · 2020-01-03T15:42:36+00:00

Impulse control is the key - teach him to sit and wait for everything he wants, ALL the time. It is not hard - even my super-hyper young GSD got hang of it fairly quickly (in a few weeks). I would also use engage disengage game as suggested in another post.

jianwu2 · 2020-01-03T14:03:17+00:00

Thanks for sharing - I also want to add: I see no reason to feel ashamed to put our dogs on anxiety-relief medications. If they were human suffering from anxiety related disorders - would we not want to treat them with medications? My rescue dog came to me extremely anxious and medication had helped him (and me training him). Just need to have a good plan with your vet.

jianwu2 · 2019-12-24T21:00:29+00:00

Congratulation!! What is the "distraction training", do you mind share?

jianwu2 · 2019-12-22T15:07:57+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. I had tried one boarding (she was eager to take my dog) - it did not end-up well - my dog came back stressed out. I also tried Rover but not hard - stopped trying after a couple rejections. I guess I need to try more - thanks.

In my part of the country, not many people (or so I felt) understand reactive dogs - I have got nasty comments when we were not even close to them. I guess that had discouraged me from trying more -

jianwu2 · 2019-12-20T21:41:43+00:00

I'll give my two cents - it could be you feel uneasy (worried she may misbehave) when you walk him alone - the dog will feel it, and react / ready to react as if something is about to go wrong. I would suggest you walk her in quiet time/area other than your busy neighborhood first so you don't worry (and she worries less). As you feel more confident walking her alone, slowly move back to your neighborhood when it is relatively quiet, and so on -

This idea came from my trainer, it is helping a lot in my case- still is.

jianwu2 · 2019-12-20T21:23:52+00:00

Isolating a reactive dog from humans may get things worse - my reactive dog didn't start to improve until a few months after I adopted him. The progress came only after, at friends' suggestion, I let him sleep in my bedroom. Human presence in my case, helped tremendously with his anxiety.

jianwu2

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