hankdog Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I would be really interested to know how the socialisation classes work out and what happens in them. I think that fee is pretty standard and seems to be including a lot of bonus extras, I guess you're not paying for 2 hours you're paying for years of experience. My little brag, Jake saw 2 dogs and didn't bark...Yay. We were trying to have fun, I feel like I spend all my time bossing him around so I was throwing chicken bits on the ground and letting him run and fetch. Two big dogs came running off-leash into the park, luckily they didn't see him but he looked at them, then me and then started making a bee-line for the street. It sort of supports my theory that he is terrified and just wants other dogs to leave him alone. anyway we left, he had a couple of looks at the dogs but I just kept talking to him and he made no noise!! Just a different way of looking at reducing the reactivity but since his reaction is so extreme I've been working on shortening his episodes from the back. Initially I just got him to sit and then gave him a treat as soon as I reasonably thought I had him under control. That way he gets a pleasant treat after seeing a dog but after some good learned behaviour. I graduated the sit to a high 5 and alternate this with a stay. I've managed to shorten the time that he's upset and can now get a stay with me standing behind him whilst he can still see the other dog. He still barks but less than before and with less "heat." We just keep doing our repertoire of tricks until he stops barking and then we move on. Seems to be working and at least he gets back under control before we move on so it doesn't spoil the rest of our walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan3 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Do you put your hand in front of the dog and stick the reward up to their nose until they notice it and take it? :laugh: Like Aidan said I would try to work out a way to lower the level of excitement. That's it, if they're too far out in front of you or totally fixated on the other dog then you are not reinforcing calm behaviour , and the whole point of the exercise is to reinforce calm behaviour. It's just like teaching a sit, stay, drop or anything else around another dog. If you aren't getting the response you're after, back it up a bit and make it easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kajtek Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 (edited) Personally, I don't worry about having them look at me. I'm more interested in reinforcing calm behaviour when they look at the other dog. If his anxiety/arousal is going too high, then wait until you're in a less arousing situation. It's exactly like training a dog to sit or stay. My name is Anna and one of my dogs is leash reactive :laugh: I have followed instructions in Patricia's McConnell's "Fiesty Fido" that involve looking at the owner when a new dog is spotted. It w o r k s! I can now walk both monsters without the hassle of HonBun trying to meet the new dog. The minute they see another dog they look at me. (HonBun even offers a beautiful sit.... to show how confused she is about the dog and the situation) We will keep practising Edited to say that HonBun is not agressive. She is just a bully who forgets her manners because things are Ahhhh so exciting. Edited May 3, 2012 by Kajtek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan3 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Personally, I don't worry about having them look at me. I'm more interested in reinforcing calm behaviour when they look at the other dog. If his anxiety/arousal is going too high, then wait until you're in a less arousing situation. It's exactly like training a dog to sit or stay. My name is Anna and one of my dogs is leash reactive :laugh: I have followed instructions in Patricia's McConnell's "Fiesty Fido" that involve looking at the owner when a new dog is spotted. It w o r k s! It does indeed. It depends a bit on your goals and the dog's personality. For some dogs, the sit and look protocol is still very useful and effective, and possibly easier for someone to undertake without help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kajtek Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 (edited) Aidan, I don't have any huge expectations of my dogs They are loving, beautiful and do things for payment (aka treats). There is nothing more I want. PMc's methods suit us really well. Edited May 3, 2012 by Kajtek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nawnim Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) ... Edited June 1, 2012 by padraic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Farewell padriac, happy that you have got your baby under control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Farewell padriac, happy that you have got your baby under control. "Farewell" ?? Glad for your success, Padriac. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 (edited) Farewell padriac, happy that you have got your baby under control. "Farewell" ?? Glad for your success, Padriac. :) I didn't actually notice this comment directed at Padriac before. Just because someone is having fantastic success with their reactive dog (well done Padriac!) doesn't mean they don't still have a reactive dog or need support and tips from other owners. Padriac can also probably offer a lot of helpful advice for the rest of us if his success is anything to go by. :) Sorry, not meant to be offensive, just wishing her well as she has had such quick success and probably wouldn't need to post. No offense meant. Edited May 9, 2012 by hankdog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Sorry, not meant to be offensive, just wishing her well as she has had such quick success and probably wouldn't need to post. No offense meant. Sorry - I misunderstood :). All is good :D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 I'd wait, if I were you. Plus, you want to make sure that what you do is going to be in keeping with the program that Mark schedules for you. Nothing worse than doing something and then finding out that what you were doing did or had the potential to make matters worse. Maybe you'll do it right. Maybe it will be the best thing for Justice. But no-one can advise you of that. Your call, really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsKatie Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 I'll be at the Group Class if he has rescheduled - will have the feral kelpie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineX Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Duke and I have been back to Reactive Rover classes for this year, and I am pleased to say that so far, he's doing pretty good. Only whining when the numbers of dogs starts to get more than two (initially it was siren intensity screaming you could hear with perfect clarity 6 football fields away), okay he thru a wobbley when one of the new staffies had a turn (ie screaming and leaping at the end of the leash), but settled very quickly when walked away a bit. Walked nicely with the little fluffybum (usually he thinks they are monsters) - lots of quick looks, but that was all. Also exchanging looks with Hazel - but kept eye contact a little too long and she lost the plot whereupon he lost the plot - but he recovered in about 3 seconds (which is down massively from 45 minutes when we started all of this - we timed him). All in all, a really good start to the year. This year's 'scary thing' has yet to eventuate - but I am sure it will. Last year it was dark brindle staffies after one ran past him at night.... he is genetically reactive but I do love how he has improved over the years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nawnim Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 (edited) ... Edited June 1, 2012 by padraic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nawnim Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 (edited) ... Edited June 1, 2012 by padraic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineX Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Hi Snook, yup, the reactive rover type classes seem a lot easier for our reactive guys to handle. Duke got to go to obediance training and the reactive classes this week - apart from the adolescent dog that triggered off his more dominent features (I didn't think the owner really wanted his dog alpha rolled with a tooth hole in his head... moved Duke away) he went thru an entire pack of bacon in half an hour! All of it displacement focussing on food rather than the scary dogs! Poor boy, reactive rovers this afternoon had four little dogs in it- two of them pretty vocal about how they felt. It was such hard work he fell asleep in the car on the way home - he never does that! You know, I hadn't thought that the people's voices might be part of the difference - where I am, in normal classes despite how often you ask for space, you just don't get it. At reactive rovers, it is really rare that you have to ask for it as everyone is watching the nearer dogs as well as their own for signs of dyscopia. Makes things so much easier. Duke spent a lot of the afternoon being aggressively interested in every blade of grass and leaf - well, its better than the alternative. Although that would have left the new lady with the staffy in no doubt that her dog was NOT the noisiest Kathy has ever had in the class! On a positive note, Kathy brought her siberian along (her racing sibe). He loves Duke - although trying to mount Duke was probably not the smartest thing he's ever done to Duke! I'm still pretty stoked that Duke's "Don't Do That!" reaction was actually entirely appropriate - he is learning canine communication! Snook - welcome to the Socially Awkward Dogs Training Club! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Sounds like a really good class although my ratbag couldn't go to something like that ...yet. So what was the worst behaved dog doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Sounds as though your work with Justice at Mark's class was productive, Snook. well done, and I hope things continue to improve for you both. Say "hi" to Mark for me next time around :). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 You're right Snook. Again I forget internet protocol. Just trying to work out at what stage it's appropriate to start thinking about attending such a class. There is a balance I would think between exposing a reactive dog to other reactive dogs so that they wind each other up rather than setting the example of being calm. Now that we have a threshold and can actually see another dog without barking I find that depending on what the other dog does can largely determine how Jake will react. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 (edited) Justice looks like quite a big, solid dog so I'm sure if he had meant to do damage he could have. At the very worst he could have had a temporary brain-snap but reined himself in which would suggest he showed some control. If you think how bad this could have been then whilst you can't ignore the action at least it wasn't a full out attack. Maybe reactive dogs will never be "cured" and free to be let loose at the local dog park without a second thought but I think the fact that he can have a squirmy puppy right in front of him is a pretty good thing. Edited May 24, 2012 by hankdog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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