Exercising Reactive Dogs Thread

[Staff'n'Toller]

Staff I was just coming in to post that same article :laugh:

:D

[hankdog]

Oh my goodness, I do the ninja thing, and the chocolate thing....sometimes I don't have time to wash my hands before hitting the fridge on the way in after a dust up Thanks for posting.

Edited July 25, 2013 by hankdog

[teekay]

I just read it too, love it. Very true about making you a better dog owner, and I particularly like No. 8.

9. Love and acceptance. Love your dog  when they progress and love them still when they turn into snarling whiling dervishes. Never ever take any positive dog interactions for granted and savor (and reward) these moments. Accept your dog for who they are and set realistic goals.Jersey will never be a social butterfly but she is learning to make better choices when she see’s dogs on the street rather than lunging or barking

. :)

[BC Crazy]

Another Ninja thing happening here as well. I don't do chocolate but a long cool glass of bubbles of a night to iron out any kinks at the end of a reactive Stella day I am certainly very guilty of :laugh:

Loved the article, thanks for sharing

[Staff'n'Toller]

Assoc of Pet Dog Trainers in Aus is quite a good group to follow if you aren't already.

Their annual conference will be in Melbourne this year which is super awesome and it's open to anyone who's interested in training and behaviour.

I get as much out of it on a personal dog owner's level as a trainer level so it's worth looking at the schedule of speakers when it's released. :)

[BC Crazy]

Staffyluv, Love the pic's of Zig & Zip Especially the one of them blowing ZZZZZ's together. So lovely :)

Must admit I can see a bit of Boxer in Zip as well.

Edited July 26, 2013 by BC Crazy

[Staffyluv]

Took Zippy to her first day of beginners obedience and she did really well.. We have a boxer breeder there and I asked her opinion on Zipp and she said that she couldn't see any boxer but she sees staffy. Staffy cross it is!..

Zig had an awesome first day in advanced class - it is so much harder and faster than intermediate..

We had a bit off lead run after training and we had a comment on how they can't wait until their dog is as well trained as Zig - such a proud moment

He still has a long way to go but when he is good, he is so very good..

He is still very much dog focused but his focus on me has improved so much that even the trainers have commented on it a couple of times now. Things like his focus on you is great, keep up the talk with him, he focuses so much when you do that. You two have a great relationship...

It just makes it all worthwhile when people notice..

I adore my boy so much and to think at one stage I doubted I could do anything with him..

[raineth]

gees Zip and Zig make a cute couple don't they

I loved the article! I read it to OH and he said "are you sure you didn't write this?" :laugh:

Corvus, that puppy socialisation can make a big difference. I think a dog who was well socialised as a puppy seems to be a bit more resilient in coping with unexpected negative experiences. Just as a general rule though, of course some dogs will always be a bit more prone to nerves or anxiety than others and that would make a difference too.

[raineth]

Ladies, I think some of you have been sending some anti-reactive fairy dust our way!

Del and I had two huge successes today with two yapping and growling offlead dogs. She just kept making terrific choices to ignore and give them signals of disengagement. Stayed calm the whole time :cool:

It's the biggest breakthrough we've had so far and I'm so happy :D

[hankdog]

Well done!! Such a great moment. Pst pass that fairy dust????.

[hankdog]

And this is why my dog keeps me amused...

For a few weeks Jake has been barking quite calmly as we approach any known dog containing house. As we get to the houses the residents are primed to go and he then happily sits and requests his peanut butter reward. I've been somewhat ambivalent, I'm happy his attitude has changed from these dogs being fear inducing to being a reward opportunity however I don't really want a barking dog.

So I decided yesterday that every time he barked I would walk back 10 steps wait 10 seconds and then continue. After about half and hour of trying to get past the dogs in my block I went home did some work and tried again in an hour, rinse and repeat, we finally left the block on our third go.

This morning as we stepped into the street he started barking I turned around to step back and all his bones turned to jelly. I tried walking but when this happens you really can't even pick him up because he becomes completely floppy. So I ignored him, eventually I pulled out my phone and found out how to work the stop watch and timed another three minutes. Three minutes is a long time standing on the side of a road. Finally I caved and took a step back in the right direction. Immeadiately my erstwhile flaccid pooch grew his bones back and leapt up ready for a walk.

If anybody would like to rent a slightly used bulldog for lessons on pig headedness, I have one available.

[megan_]

Am I the only one whose blood is boiling over that reporting thread in general?

I had a shocking morning . Went to a wetland reserve where dogs are allowed on leash. It was 7.30 when I spotted a GSD X hunting birds off leash . This dog was in full prey drive and was manic. Luckily he was so intent on hunting birds he didn't even see my dogs even though we were a few metres away. We managed to get to the car by stealth and I took a photo of the owners car and wi be reporting him to the council. They aren't good at following these things up but given he was hunting wildlife they might give the owner a nice fine.

It is one of those days where I think I won't be able to own a dog again. Too damn stressful :-(.

Edited August 3, 2013 by megan_

[hankdog]

I'm sorry Megan, some days are just rubbish. Yes surprised myself by pressing the post button on a not friendly reply in that thread, although I did edit it to tone it down from my first response. It does give me insight into how others think although makes me despondent that it may be the majority who think that way. I do hope your dog ownership days are not numbered. It's really hard and I know I'd never get another reactive dog and would probably not take a chance on a rescue again, but I think I still would get another dog after Jake. I remember how bleak life seemed without a dog.

[BC Crazy]

Sorry you had such a bad morning megan ..... I will always have a dog or dogs in my life but not sure I want another reactive one. They can & do push every button. And can be just so exhausting emotionally & physically at

times. Also can reduce you to tears more often than I care to remember. Not sure I want to be pushed as far so often with my next dog. Don't get me wrong I adore Stella to bits & I know she can't help her chemical imbalanced make

up. She tries so very hard to keep a lid on her reactivity but it just gets the better of her at times. She is just a lot of dog. I just always try & remind myself that for some reason our paths have crossed. Maybe to improve my

handling skills. Who knows.

Edited August 4, 2013 by BC Crazy

[megan_]

Maybe it is because I have small dogs? Fergus isn't at all reactive however I still worry about him when I see an off leash GSD in prey drive running towards us! Maybe ill just get a big dog next time - not reactive, but could put up a fight if they needed to.

ETA: Lucy is reactive only to dogs that don't respond to her very appropriate "please give me some space" signals. She was a gem today - she knew to stand behind me and not say a peep!

Edited August 3, 2013 by megan_

[teekay]

Am I the only one whose blood is boiling over that reporting thread in general?

I had a shocking morning . Went to a wetland reserve where dogs are allowed on leash. It was 7.30 when I spotted a GSD X hunting birds off leash . This dog was in full prey drive and was manic. Luckily he was so intent on hunting birds he didn't even see my dogs even though we were a few metres away. We managed to get to the car by stealth and I took a photo of the owners car and wi be reporting him to the council. They aren't good at following these things up but given he was hunting wildlife they might give the owner a nice fine.

It is one of those days where I think I won't be able to own a dog again. Too damn stressful :-(.

I'm lost for words, reading that thread. It just goes to show that some people will never change and never admit they have done anything wrong. I used to think people who let their dogs off lead were just ignorant and mostly just didn't realise their 'friendly' dogs would be a problem, but obviously some people, even when confronted with the truth, are reluctant to admit any wrongdoing.

I would certainly not like to own a reactive dog again but there are no guarantees with dog ownership, especially if you get a puppy. Luka was so chilled as a puppy, i socialised him, he wasn't nervous, he had no bad experiences and yet at about 10-11 months he just gradually started to change I thought I had researched well before i got him. I turned down a different puppy because I was not happy with the temperament of the parents. I thought I had done everything right and yet, here we are Having said that though, I can't imagine life without dogs in it, so I would definitely continue to own dogs. I have been thinking the next dog I would like to get is a Finnish Lapphund, not for a number of years yet, but I am loitering in the Spitz thread to try and get a feel for them. :D Had I done that with the Australian Shepherd I would have noticed there can be a tendency towards reactivity in the breed.

[hankdog]

That's funny I've also got an eye on the lappies but I think my next dog will be smaller. Something easier to sling over my shoulder than a lump of bulldog.

Pretty sad that an off leash dog was in wetlands at this time of year particularly, our mrs Duck is off sitting on eggs at the moment.

Edited August 3, 2013 by hankdog

[BC Crazy]

I totally understand no matter what breed there are no guarantees you wont get a reactive pup.I researched both of mine extensively before purchasing them. Lets just say I nailed one of them.

Sonny is to die for in every way. An absolutely delightful boy I too was thinking Lappie, Jap Spritz or a Havanese if I go really little, when I'm too old for another BC. I'm on no.5 atm :laugh:

I'll always own a fluffy pup cause I love grooming, nuts I know

Hankdog isn't Jake a stubborn bugger :laugh: Who would of thought with such a cute face. He cracks me up with his antics. He's a real smarty pants. Doubt whether I would find him so amusing if I were trying to train him though.

I wouldn't be laughing then :laugh:

Megan, off leash dogs in wetlands ??? Some people are just so irresponsible with their dogs it drives me nuts I try so hard never to allow mine to annoy anybody or anything living. I wish others could do the same as it

would make our lives a hell of a lot easier.

Edited August 4, 2013 by BC Crazy

[raineth]

Sounds like Jake is really learning how to work the system hankdog

It's interesting hearing people's plans for future dogs. OH and I have decided that the loose dog problem is so bad here that we won't be getting another dog(puppy) as long as we are still in this area. I just think the risk of it becoming reactive due to scary incidents would be too high.

That being said, we wouldn't be getting another pup while we still have Dig and Del anyway.

But our plans are for a Pedigree next time, mainly because I want a puppy rather than an older dog and I am planning on eventually being able to have one at work with me, so predictability is very important. So far are shortlist is Italian Spinone, Brittany, and possibly smooth collie (depends on how barky they are even with training).

Maybe it is because I have small dogs? Fergus isn't at all reactive however I still worry about him when I see an off leash GSD in prey drive running towards us! Maybe ill just get a big dog next time - not reactive, but could put up a fight if they needed to.

ETA: Lucy is reactive only to dogs that don't respond to her very appropriate "please give me some space" signals. She was a gem today - she knew to stand behind me and not say a peep!

Megan, I often think about how much more terrifying it would be to have a smaller dog. No wonder some people with the small dogs are too worried to walk them at all. I think how stressful it is with mine when we have those aggressive encounters, even though I know their size affords them some protection; not from getting hurt, but certainly from getting badly hurt or killed.

[Cosmolo]

Having small dogs is very eye opening- your margin for error is just so small.