Question For Owners Of Reactive Dogs

[dee lee]

My past DA/reactive dog was predictable and she would react every time she saw another dog.

Any dog would solicit an aggressive response, even if just initially.

Distance didn't help, she would respond to many dogs, especially boxers (she hated boxers) from blocks away.

I was extremely alert but at pains to not communicate that (I believe I was successful).

The stress was hell- for me and I imagine for her too.

[ESCS]

Mine is reactive and predictable. He reacts to other dogs when on a leash and the closer the dog, the more intense the reaction. I also try hard to control my anxiety but it's not always easy and I'm always on the look out for other dogs ( hoping we won't come across too many at the same time!). I'm a first time dog owner and the learning curve is a steep one for me too. Fortunately, the trainer we have been working with has been a great help.

[TerraNik]

I know this is a really dumb question......but can someone define "reactive dogs" for me? Sorry to be a pain, but I am still learning all the terms and jargon.

Thanks

That depends who you talk to. Lately it has been common for people to describe aggressive dogs specifically as reactive, while others use it to describe any dog who barks, lunges and generally gets highly aroused by a certain stimuli, whether it be out of aggression or not.

Edited July 26, 2010 by TerraNik

[Staranais]

I know this is a really dumb question......but can someone define "reactive dogs" for me? Sorry to be a pain, but I am still learning all the terms and jargon.

Thanks

That depends who you talk to. Lately it has been common for people to describe aggressive dogs specifically as reactive, while others use it to describe any dog who barks, lunges and generally gets highly aroused by a certain stimuli, whether it be out of aggression or not.

Yes. It's a good question, since it's a very ambivalent term. Some people seem to use it as a euphemism for aggressive, and some people seem to use it as meaning low threshold to drive (any drive), and others just seem to mean a dog that is excitable. Not sure how Corvus means it, but hopefully she will clarify.

I have had one dog who is very reactive (excitable & alert & low threshold) but not aggressive. She is predictable, in that just about everything excites her.

I have had one dog who was very dog aggressive, but not alert or particularly excitable. He was predictable too, once I'd learned what type of situation tended to set him off.

IMO the more you get to know a dog, the more work you do with them, the more predictable they become.

[Lucy's mama]

I have had one dog who is very reactive (excitable & alert & low threshold) but not aggressive

This is how I understand the word and how it applies to Banjo.

[corvus]

I meant emotionally reactive in the sense that the dog is quite sensitive and tends to over-react. So low threshold and unusually big reactions. I don't think that any aggressive dog is reactive and any reactive dog is not necessarily aggressive. In the scientific literature it's associated with emotional instability.

[raineth]

my first dog (great dane) was reactive.

His reactiveness was extreme excitability (he would bounnce vertically, not unlike Tiggar from Winnie the Pooh, and bark) in response to dogs and people to a lesser extent. There was no aggression involved thankfully, just out of control excitement. It was so hard to deal with....And very hard because he was so big, 15 kgs heavier than me infact.

I did work hard at it though (he only lived to 14 months so I only had him for one year) and it was in the last couple of months we got big improvements. He would drop upon seeing a dog and keep heeling when he saw a person.

But occasionally he would still be set off and I couldn't really work out why.

Apart from that he was a really lovely dog.

The hardest thing is staying confident and positive.

Definitely owners of reactive dogs could use a support group!

[Dame Aussie]

my first dog (great dane) was reactive.

His reactiveness was extreme excitability (he would bounnce vertically, not unlike Tiggar from Winnie the Pooh, and bark) in response to dogs and people to a lesser extent. There was no aggression involved thankfully, just out of control excitement. It was so hard to deal with....And very hard because he was so big, 15 kgs heavier than me infact.

I did work hard at it though (he only lived to 14 months so I only had him for one year) and it was in the last couple of months we got big improvements. He would drop upon seeing a dog and keep heeling when he saw a person.

But occasionally he would still be set off and I couldn't really work out why.

Apart from that he was a really lovely dog.

The hardest thing is staying confident and positive.

Definitely owners of reactive dogs could use a support group!

That's my boy! He just LOVES everyone and everything so if a dog walks past or a person he lieks the look of he will jump and whine out of excitement. Not an aggressive bone in his body, he just wants to lick and play, but at just over 45kg he can be a bit intimidating

He is improving and is still quite young, so that's a plus!

Had to add: The vertical bounce...he does this, it's gravity defying!!

Edited July 26, 2010 by Aussie3

[W Sibs]

I meant emotionally reactive in the sense that the dog is quite sensitive and tends to over-react. So low threshold and unusually big reactions. I don't think that any aggressive dog is reactive and any reactive dog is not necessarily aggressive. In the scientific literature it's associated with emotional instability.

This is my understanding on reactive dogs.

Emmy is not aggressive.. but she will react (bolting is her style) with things if she gets startled.

[sas]

I have a reactive dog (dog-to-dog), we have done a huge amount of work with him over the past 12 months because as each month rolled on he would get worse, his medical conditions do hamper us with his ongoing recoverly.

His reactiveness started with some bad experiences with 3 dogs when he was a younger and mix that with a natural anxious personality he became reactive.

We choose a method that was somewhat taboo when other methods failed, we choose to flood in a controlled environment with a proffessional and he's a different dog now, I'm incrediably proud of him and his progress.

He can enjoy the company of other dogs and seeks out dogs with good energy regardless of if they are placid or very playful. Fostering with lovely temperamented dogs has really helped him as well - they teach him alot.

He will react if he is rushed (i.e. feels threatened) - he's an ongoing work in progress.

In terms of being unpredictable - yes some times but I would say more predictable as to what he would react to.

Edited July 26, 2010 by sas

[Aidan]

Predictable responses in unpredictable environments.

[megan_]

Monah I have found this to be the case with me as well - i become anxious no matter how hard I try not to be and of course that doesn't help the situation at all!

Me too - until I started to play "who's that?" from Click to Calm. Basically, as soon as the dog looks at something that MAY trigger them, while they are still relaxed (ie you have nanoseconds) say "who's that" in a happy voice and shove a treat into their mouth. After a few goes, your dog will look at you when they see a trigger, and both you and the dog remain calm.

My girl is sometimes predictable (doesn't like dogs that get in her face) but she sometimes growls at the strangest things (very occasionally, she will grumble at a dog that is nice and calm). She sometimes barks or growls, but I wouldn't classify her as aggressive (she has never attacked or bitten something that she is scared of). If a person who she feared came up to her she would actually freeze and shake. But she is reacting negatively to something in her environement so I classify that as "reactive".

[Jetty]

Jet has a case of fear agression. He used to be very unpredictable. I am confident to say now that he is managable. Over the last 6 months we have worked on it a lot. I went and saw a behaviourist here in Brisbane, she was great. Then with her recommendation we started up an obedience class. At this point he was really hard to handle and I would get overwhelmed a lot by his behaviour. I could not take him on walks without him lunging and barking/growling at other dogs, distance would be no factor, as long as he saw a dog he would react the same way. The first class at our club was him growling and barking the whole night. We concentrated on his focus in the class and made sure he was around carefree non reactive dogs. At the end of the 6 weeks he was not leaving my side. Would have complete focus on me & with recall he would come straight to me offlead!

I can now take him to dog parks again or public places with other dogs. There has been the odd one or two times he has growled at another dog since then but as soon as I call him and make him focused on me, he forgets about everyone else around and ignores other dogs.

This has turned into a gloat about how proud I am sorry! He is now very predictable. I put this down to the more I have learnt as an owner about his body signals and training with control.

[Monah]

I'm really lucky, my girl is extremely responsive to me and has hardly any interest at all in other dogs etc. However, if they show interest in her and get in her face, she gets all nervy and will snap, so I get anxious if we have to pass anyone on a tight path, see anyone off lead etc. ;) or if anyone tries to approach to let their dog meet my dog :D

She is very friendly with several dogs, but I dont trust her as in the past she has suddenly snapped (I guess she had her reasons). We keep things short and sweet. She has never lunged etc. and when bike riding or indeed any activity, she is only focussed on the job at hand, no matter what the distraction. It's a shame she has this problem and it's worse at training as she is on 'high alert' because of hyper dogs and the excitement of training. ;) so it puts me off. When she is excited she is much more reactive, so a dog can pass her and she'll get narky.

If I keep her calm, she's great. she knows 'look' and will always look to me. Years ago we would have called her 'highly strung'.

She's also great with cats etc. all other animals, horses.

frightened of kids under about 12, hackles go up.

She's been well socialised, done flyball, agility, obed. etc.

I'm pretty sure this is as good as it will get. she was like this from the beginning, nothing bad has ever happened to her.

She is also loving, wonderful, sweet, loves to please, wants to always do the right thing, very intelligent and I am absolutely crazy in love with her.

Luckily my other dog is so laid back and an angel in temperament, so they get on. Two the same would have been a nightmare xxxx

I've had what I'd call excitable reactive dogs before and found them quite easy, I'm not great with the aggressive reaction though, I feel like a really bad 'parent' with a horrible dog and on the couple of occassions when she's connected and drawn blood from another dog, I've felt like throwing up and so ashamed. Luckily it has never been more than a super quick warning snap that has connected, but it's an awful AWFUL feeling all the same.

corvus, my girl is emotionally unstable, so we keep her to a routine, she is most stable with a routine, likes to know what is coming next etc.

[aussielover]

all dogs must be reactive to some degree unless sleeping or dead lol

Most "normal" (not aggressive or fearful) dogs get excited or happy seeing another person or a new dog.

So does reactive mean this behaviour becomes out of control or unmanagable?

My old dog would react "aggressively" if dogs jumped on her or ran up in her face. However I personally consider this normal behaviour for an older dog. The noise was quite bad, but she never actually injured another dog or broke the skin. She was also fine with young puppies as i suppose they still had their "puppy licence"

I did feel uncomfortable though as some owners could not see that their dogs behaviour was inappropriate.

So I suppose she was predictably reactive?

My new puppy is one of those puppies that would run and jump on an older dop if allowed lol!

[Monah]

JJ that's really terrific, I saw the behaviourist too, she is really incredible! and helped me no end, still does. I'm very proud of you and Jet!! Unfortunately the club here is not very supportive. I've had to put her in the car between 'runs' at dog sports, have her way away at obed. etc. even though nothing's ever happened and she's been there since a pup.

In darwin there was a fantastic training club who all worked and helped and were very progressive in their outlook (the one here is very outdated I'm afraid, still prefer chokers!)

The darwin one did 'meet and greets' with your dog etc and other exercises. controlled. I know she would have improved 100% at a school like that. HEre it's a no no

They also made me feel OK about it, ie. many out there, dont worry etc. , here we are almost left on the periphery of it all, which does no good at all as she needs the interaction.

Oh well, hopefully moving this year, have to find a good club!

[Tokkie]

We need to start a Reactive Dog (Owner) Support Group!

Best idea ever...... I always read about all the 'good' dogs and felt like I was the only one with a reactive dog......

Monah I have found this to be the case with me as well - i become anxious no matter how hard I try not to be and of course that doesn't help the situation at all!

Me 100%..... :D

I don't know what trigger him to react, after the first couple of times I never let him close to strange dogs again..... I stress too much.

I'm taking a big step next week.... taking him back to obedience training....I want to do agility with him but he must finish gr.3 first.... hoping everything will be ok.

[kayla1]

Monah I have found this to be the case with me as well - i become anxious no matter how hard I try not to be and of course that doesn't help the situation at all!

Me too - until I started to play "who's that?" from Click to Calm. Basically, as soon as the dog looks at something that MAY trigger them, while they are still relaxed (ie you have nanoseconds) say "who's that" in a happy voice and shove a treat into their mouth. After a few goes, your dog will look at you when they see a trigger, and both you and the dog remain calm.

I love the 'Look at that' game from Control Unleashed which is a similar concept. Works well with my reactive dogs.

[Greytmate]

Woody is a reactive dog. But he is being trained to react in appropriate ways, and being desensitised to the triggers. His behaviour often changes depending on proximity to the trigger and the intensity of the trigger. It's confusing times for Woody, but we are working towards reliability.

Predictably isn't just about the dog, its also about the predictor. Not everyone has the same expectations about what the dog should do or what its genetic limits are, and they don't all have the same ability to reliably modify the behaviour.

Woody wears a muzzle in public, because I predict an incident, should the wrong dog do the wrong thing in the wrong proximity. I can predict Woody's behaviour better than I can predict the stupidity of some other dog owners.

Edited July 27, 2010 by Greytmate

[Jetty]

JJ that's really terrific, I saw the behaviourist too, she is really incredible! and helped me no end, still does. I'm very proud of you and Jet!! Unfortunately the club here is not very supportive. I've had to put her in the car between 'runs' at dog sports, have her way away at obed. etc. even though nothing's ever happened and she's been there since a pup.

In darwin there was a fantastic training club who all worked and helped and were very progressive in their outlook (the one here is very outdated I'm afraid, still prefer chokers!)

The darwin one did 'meet and greets' with your dog etc and other exercises. controlled. I know she would have improved 100% at a school like that. HEre it's a no no

They also made me feel OK about it, ie. many out there, dont worry etc. , here we are almost left on the periphery of it all, which does no good at all as she needs the interaction.

Oh well, hopefully moving this year, have to find a good club!

Yes you put me onto her Monah!

Her training plan was great. I only saw her twice but her training was worth the time and money!

This is the second training club I have attended. The first one really had no idea how to handle it at all, and would dismiss it. They prefered the outdated way as well. I am truly lucky to find some trainers who were willing to take him on in there classes.

I hope you can find a good club in the future.