Another Question About Reactivity!

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Ok, so there have been several threads of recent about reactive dogs. I'm having one particular area that I'm really struggling with, and that is other dogs that we need to pass that are walking towards us.

If we are following someone walking with their dog there are no problems. I make sure we don't pass them, but I will walk so that we are following close-ish (under threshold).

But if we are walking and we need to approach a dog (either stationary or walking towards us) then there are reactivity problems. Usually I just try to avoid this by crossing the road where I can or if needs be turning around and detouring - and yes try to do this as low fuss as possible so that Kenzie just thinks we were going to do that anyway. However, there are times where this just isn't possible and realistically we need to work to an end point where she can do this without reacting (and I'm very realistic that this will take some time!).

Interestingly, at obedience classes where we do a socialisation "meet and greet" we now virtually have no problems on this front. The only time there is a problem is if the other dog is high energy/boistrous/tried to jump at her or goes too close to her face (and I just take a wide berth around these dogs whenever I can). But in this situation she can very calmly walk towards about 20 or so other dogs and can even meet them nose-nose (ish!). The BIG problem is in a 1 on 1 situation.

We're playing LAT whenever we see other dogs, lots of reinforcement for staying calm around other dogs, going with distractions whenever I can, and trying to get lots of seeing single other dogs at distance so she is below threshold (but to be honest we just don't see a lot of dogs being walked on their own around here at times/situations that I can keep her calm).

Don't know if I should be trying to just hang out in an area where there are heaps of dogs being walked and doing lots of LAT, etc and slowly getting closer. (and then the problem would be - where is that??!!)

So throwing it out there to you all to see if there are any other ideas/tactics/strategies to think about employing.

[corvus]

Interestingly, at obedience classes where we do a socialisation "meet and greet" we now virtually have no problems on this front. The only time there is a problem is if the other dog is high energy/boistrous/tried to jump at her or goes too close to her face (and I just take a wide berth around these dogs whenever I can). But in this situation she can very calmly walk towards about 20 or so other dogs and can even meet them nose-nose (ish!). The BIG problem is in a 1 on 1 situation.

This reminds me of Erik, who doesn't have a problem with dogs in general, but has a problem if there is an absence of dogs and then just one comes into view. For him I have had very good success with LAT played in places where we have lots of space to move and good visibility. We have a sporting complex in the next suburb comprising of 4 playing fields, a series of mountain bike tracks, and a cycle track going through it all. It is rarely busy, but often we encounter just one dog being walked, which is just the kind of thing that gets Erik going. Because it's mostly playing fields, we can see the dog a long way off and start playing LAT very early. We can usually pass the dog far enough away that Erik doesn't lose it. Lots of practise with 'telling' me there's a dog by looking but not barking does get generalised to sitations where dogs are closer. The key for Erik is starting early. If they pop out of nowhere, he tends to be much harder. It's a lost cause if they lunge at him.

Do you know anyone with a good stooge dog? If you don't have a good place to practise LAT where the visibility is good and there's room to move, I'd be trying to set up some BAT sessions. The idea is to gradually work the dog up to walking past calmly by always rewarding them for calm behaviour by taking them away from the other dog until they are comfortable enough that they don't need to be taken away.

[bedazzledx2]

I sortof have this issue with Zac... if I'm walking on the bridle path or somewhere narrow and have no room to move it becomes difficult. He is not re-active or aggressive in any way, he is far too friendly and he will mug people and other dogs if I allowed it. Obviously this is not something I want to encourage so I'm playing my version of LAT. As someone approaches I acknowledge there is a distraction there...(look at that or whatever you want to say), click and as he is turning for the treat I will pull (lure) front and shovel the food in until they pass. Its a bit clumsy but for him I couldn't let up the treating as he would instantly re-alert to them. It has become a lot easier now...as someone is coming he now is looking to me for the treat and I can dole them out more slowly. He knows the other dog/person is there within a few feet of them but if I am careful and keep his attention we can all pass nicely.

I'm looking for this to become calmer and eventually I should be able to treat on the move and then drop the treats. It takes practice and I admit I've been slack of late due to other commitments so have walked them in a bigger space but I will get back to it.

You have to be very diligent and have eyes in the back of your head so as to not allow self rewarding behaviour but this does seem to be working for us.

[dasha]

Do you know the reason that she is reactive.

Is it fear, confrontation or just because it is a dog she doesn't know etc

I think without knowing where the reactivity is coming from, it would be hard to know what exercises are appropriate to try to correct the issue.

What breed and age is she

[BC Crazy]

My girl is very reactive to lots of different things so I will be keeping a keen eye on all replies Pretty Miss Emma.

This morning for example out walking my 2 & they are sitting at the curb waiting to cross the road beautifully. Next thing 2 people on push bikes come rushing up behind us. Stella completely flipped out, spun around

barking & growling I just stood there till she calmed down then crossed the road. She will react to bikes or skateboards especially when they approaching us from behind. I have tried to distract her but it is like she

goes into emotional shut down.

[SammieS]

I had a reply all written and my laptop crashed the second attempt is never the same.

I just wanted to say that I know how you feel BC Crazy and Pretty Miss Emma. I have the same issues with Asti. We're seeing a trainer and working through it. I have also found it hard to practice walking past dogs, so I go for a drive to a popular spot (which probably has too many distractions) and we walk in arcs around people coming towards us which works well until the people we're going past walk towards us (out of their way because their dog wants to say hi to us!!!) I think we need a bandana that says "in training", I've googled them but didn't find any.

On a brighter note, I have been able to reduce Asti's reactivity to humans and bikes/runners. We take her up to woolies, and while OH does the shopping we "people watch", its great as most people are in a hurry so it takes the pressure off Asti as she doesn't have to greet anyoneand I don't let kids approach us for a pat either. This has helped immensely! I have also found that her reactivity increases with the speed of bikes/runners, so if I can cue her by saying "watching for the... " she isn't surprised by a bus, runner or bike going past.

I have the Controlled Unleashed book which has been a great help, I thought the massage part was silly, but I now sit on the floor and massage her while watching Dog Whisperer or Pitbulls and Parolees and find Asti is more relaxed and less inclined to get up and bark at the tv (and put scratched in my tv unit)

Its nice to know we're not alone with our reactive dogs, and will be watching the replies on this thread closely to see if there's anything new I can try too! I want other people to see her how I see her when she's relaxed.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Do you know the reason that she is reactive.

Is it fear, confrontation or just because it is a dog she doesn't know etc

I think without knowing where the reactivity is coming from, it would be hard to know what exercises are appropriate to try to correct the issue.

What breed and age is she

She's a BC and is just about to turn 2.

Not totally sure where the reactivity has come from in regards to other dogs as she was soooo well socialised when she was young (and continues to be). However, the things that stand out to me that happened when she was younger that possibly relate to this are...

*she was lunged at and grabbed by a GSD (who the owner told me afterwards doesn't like dogs being near it - we were 2m away just passing, and the owner had little control and not enough strength to get the dog away from us)

*a little pug x thing she met quite nicely when she was young but then it jumped up to get to her face, not aggressively just excitedly but she doesn't like that

*lots of dogs in my area bark and bounce at ends of leads when they see other dogs (again something she doesn't like)

So we do just go with trying to keep distance when we're one on one so that I can avoid dogs rushing up to her face and can keep distance between the barking/bouncing dogs and us. But her tolerance 1 on 1 is just so muhc less than in a group situation. I feel like her reactivity is trying to tell these dogs to get away from her because she doesn't know if they are going to get too in her face (but that's just a gut feeling, who knows if there's anything to it!!).

[BC Crazy]

SammieS, I was thinking of getting that Control Unleashed book/DVD. I need to really learn more about reactivity & how to manage it better. How old is Asti? my Stella is 11 months old & is improving.

She is a very alert girl & I certainly don't want to turn her into a 'robot' so to speak but I would like her to be able to relax & really enjoy her surrounding. I walk her with my 3 year male who is pretty confident & she

walks right beside him happily.This has really helped her. It is really when things rush up at us. She doesn't react nearly as much if they are approaching us but when they are coming up behind is where we come undone.

Stella is pretty good when other dogs pass on lead, I usually make them both sit & wait till they walk by without an incident, then give release word & walk on. Off lead is a different thing. She wants to run up & see

everyone & "talks' her head off but she has really good recall & comes straight back to me very quickly, which is great. I want to teach her to walk with me off lead that is my next thing. I don't need her to heel

formally just to stay close when I need her to. My boy has never wandered more than a few feet from me off lead.

We are going to try the shops & people watch. Good idea. :D

Edited October 9, 2011 by BC Crazy