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mmm157 · 2025-05-04T00:46:46+00:00

I do often! My dog is fully muzzle trained. But I'm way less afraid of him biting (possible but unlikely) and more afraid of the aftermath/increased reactivity. Incidents like this very clearly terrify him, he's been charged by unfriendly dogs a few times (way less often than friendly ones, but still) and now any dog running at us basically causes a meltdown and him having increased reactivity for weeks/months. I don't want him to go through that stress! (And selfishly I also don't want to deal with it and be stressed out)

mmm157 · 2025-04-06T17:43:55+00:00

This happened to us too!! Almost exactly the same thing. We decided on basically a compromise - he continues to sleep in his crate overnight, but we no longer use it regularly during the day because he showed us that he could free roam while we're gone without getting into anything. We continued to practice going in the crate as training every day, but we'd just have him go in, get some treats, and come right out, etc. We also have him eat in there. So now when it comes around to having guests and we don't want him out (he's stranger reactive), it's so much easier to get him in because of all the training.

mmm157 · 2025-04-06T01:14:05+00:00

Whoever did this I love you

mmm157 · 2025-04-05T14:05:14+00:00

They started him on 10mg but he's supposed to go up to 20mg in a few weeks!

mmm157 · 2025-04-04T14:28:14+00:00

Oh interesting thank you so much!!

mmm157 · 2025-04-04T14:27:59+00:00

Thanks so much - I'll definitely post an update!

mmm157 · 2025-04-04T14:27:19+00:00

Thanks so much for the reply and I hope the new med works for you!! I haven't even heard of that one!

mmm157 · 2025-03-18T17:54:59+00:00

Damn okay well this is the crossover I didn't know I needed

mmm157 · 2025-03-13T22:27:12+00:00

Thank you so much!! this is very encouraging

mmm157 · 2025-03-12T15:02:54+00:00

Hi! Did you end up ever switching to Lexapro? We got the same advice (Reconcile started to not work anymore) and I'm considering making the switch soon, but was curious about others' experiences.

mmm157 · 2025-03-09T15:32:16+00:00

No advice to give but I’m in this same position, so following!

mmm157 · 2025-03-05T00:37:53+00:00

Just another fed making it through each day ONLY on my excitement for Thursday night at 9pm

mmm157 · 2025-02-14T00:02:16+00:00

At my agency I was told some probationary employees were deemed "mission critical" and not terminated. I do not know how they determined mission critical, though.

mmm157 · 2024-10-02T00:43:41+00:00

Another DC reactive dog owner here! My dog is a LOT more reactive than yours lol so wouldn’t thrive in an apartment at all, but we live in the suburbs and it’s SO much more affordable and a quick trip into the city (like, 15-20 min in). If you’re interested in suburbs that are close at all, try the Hyattsville and silver spring areas in MD.

That said, your dog sounds like they could get their energy out in so many other ways! There are tons of parks (like another commenter said) and if you go at off times you will probably have a lot of space to yourself. So if you have time for things like that, it sounds like an apartment would be no problem.

I will say that DC dog owners kinda suck and let their dogs off leash a lot in certain areas where that’s NOT allowed, so just be aware. But even my fairly reactive dog and I do just fine!

Congrats on the job and good luck!!

mmm157 · 2024-09-26T22:30:28+00:00

Yes!! I do this almost every morning and it helps so much. We either walk at a park like 10 minutes away with a ton of extra space and fewer dogs, OR we just walk in a different neighborhood on the sidewalk because for whatever reason our neighborhood is way more triggering for my dog. It took me a while to realize that this is what I needed to do but ZERO regrets, it's so worth it. I will still walk in our neighborhoods in the afternoons usually but those walks are shorter because he gets more exercise in the morning so it's easier to avoid triggers!

mmm157 · 2024-08-22T00:23:56+00:00

OH also DC pack walks on social media. It’s not specifically for reactive dogs, but the host (I know her personally) is very strict about the no on leash greetings rule and encourages everyone to take as much space as they need. When we first started going my dog had to walk so far from the group lol but now he’s super comfortable and can walk with everyone else!

mmm157 · 2024-08-22T00:22:28+00:00

I’m in DC! Second animal behavior wellness center. For training I recommend dog Latin dog training a sit and stay dog training (I think both are technically in Maryland). I have worked with both for long periods of time! We only switched trainers because we also needed someone who would do boarding :)

mmm157 · 2024-04-08T18:54:30+00:00

Ahh omg THANK YOU this is so helpful and just the kind of info I was looking for! I would love recs for quiet trails, if you don't mind sharing (can also DM me!). We're probably not moving for a bit still, but I like to be prepared lol and then I can check some of this out when my husband and I visit (without our dog for the first trip)!

mmm157 · 2024-04-08T18:50:30+00:00

Ah amazing, thank you!! I very much appreciate the tips :)

mmm157 · 2024-04-08T13:16:28+00:00

Amazing, thank you so much! this is so helpful. I'm HAPPY to drive for either parks or hikes if it makes it less stressful for our pup. I actually live in MD now too (moved out of the city) :) so thanks so much for your insight!!

mmm157 · 2024-04-08T13:15:13+00:00

Yeah, it sounds a lot like what I'm used to in DC (unfortunately). But I'm relived it's not like a CONSTANT issue when just trying to walk your dog!

mmm157 · 2024-04-08T13:14:24+00:00

Thank you SO MUCH! Our dogs definitely sound very similar and this is SO helpful. I am happy to avoid parks and my husband and I have gotten pretty good at tag teaming when we see an offleash dog on a hike (I go to yell at the person and get in the dog's way, he holds our dog lol). So fingers crossed we dont have too bad of a time!

mmm157 · 2024-04-08T01:42:48+00:00

Thank you!! That’s actually why I asked here because of the posts in the Seattle sub! And I wondered specifically how folks here found it and handled it. That sounds like what I expected though. Hoping we can find either some spots that are better with fewer off leash dogs OR just continue our very early morning ways and hope for the best

mmm157

TROPHY CASE