Jump to content

Exercising Reactive Dogs Thread


 Share

Recommended Posts

17 minutes ago, Thistle the dog said:

ah lets see if i can do this. size limits...

 

he is growing like a particularly floppy weed

 

17933852_1864518037170210_50484443351340

^took this about 3 weeks ago

 

17934063_1721000628197720_60182837061736

^couple of days ago

 

17932335_1380790362013582_77145089272279

^last week, in the city at work (hence, tie ;) )

 

and here is a recent video of them playing :)

 

 

 

 

Ohhh, look at his gorgeous little face, I'd want to smoosh him all up.   :love:

 

Thistle and him playing bitey face, seriously cute!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And since I'm here... Quinn has been more reactive on walks post-Molly than she was pre-Molly - OTT barking and some lunging towards dogs barking in their yards when we pass them on walks, and of course when you're walking three dogs together and one goes off they all do.

 

I was hoping it would settle down but it wasn't so we went back to basics a bit and I've been walking her on her own with lots of LAT using the clicker and cheese for treats. I haven't used the clicker with her for years but I wanted to be as quiet as possible and not cue her at all because she's been ignoring me anyway when I've tried to get her attention away from the other dogs. It's worked really well, she responded to the clicker straight away and is now checking in with me every step or too in case I might like to give her some cheese, even though I'm phasing it out now. She even stood still and kept looking back at me when we encountered a cat in the road the other day, which is even more than I expected (cats are her most favourite thing in the world ever, she desperately wants to befriend every one she sees).

 

So that's good but the next challenge will be to get it happening with all three dogs at once. And then reintroducing them all to other dogs a bit more. We used to go to the dog park regularly but haven't been in ages and ages because I've been without a car but I'm concerned about how the interactions with Molly might have affected how my dogs respond to other dogs up close so that will be interesting. I'll see if I can do some obedience classes with Quinn before I let her loose on the dog park I think so things are more controlled.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Got hit with the wonderings on how those in my fave dol thread are going. How is everybody and their dogs? :)

 

we are good. We are still working out the double dog household thing but I think in time with training and maturity and routine it will work out. 

 

Biggest challenge: feeding off each other's excitement and "left out anxiety" from both. 

 

solution: making them sit when I get home. Dog with butt on ground gets treats. Release when the initial "mums home!!" jitters wear off. 

Dog who is being left out gets a bone or kong. RIP my seatbelt though. 

 

We just started nosewoeks back up again so theyre going to get lots of time to practice being "left out". 

 

All in all. Good little puppies. 

IMG_1941.PNG

IMG_1942.PNG

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's good to see that everyone's dogs are doing well and the new puppy is gorgeous. I am not sure people visit this forum very much but I tried a google search and didn't get very far. I was just wondering if anyone can recommend a boarding/holiday place for my poodle who is anxious around new people? I don't think she would cope in a kennel environment at all. We have made a lot of gains but she is a nervous dog and I don't think that's going to change. We try to take her on holidays but we would like to visit a dear friend in NZ at some point. If I got a sitter they would have to be very dog savy so not to push her into situations she cannot cope with. Ahhh it's a bit hard. I would welcome any suggestions or what other people do. Thank you so much. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess that's a prod for me, lol.

 

We had a better patch that coincided with building works in our street stopping and meds bumped up in accordance with weight gain + a little weight loss, but now things have gone to rubbish again with them restarting and possibly also due to regaining the lost 200g. We even had some worsening shadow chasing last night (he could not be redirected, refused to wear his calming cap and flew out of our arms to attack our walls) which is disconcerting.

 

So we truck on. He has also been seeing an eye specialist as his lenses are becoming very mobile, so now he's on eyedrops to stall them fully dislocating and make them go to the back of his eye if they do vs to the front which would require emergency surgery. Unfortunately the eyedrops can be very irritating and worsen peripheral vision. While he doesn't seem to be too worried by them, he's one of those dogs that don't give much away... apart from an uptick in anxiety! So GAH. We still need to do his dental too, but we're getting his eyes sorted out first. That lump on his hip has resorbed though so that's good!

 

One thing that's really weird: he's started being very keen to go for walks and carries on like a pork chop if I leave by our front gate, I think because he wants to or assumes he's coming with me? His walks have been a bit better at times... but he's usually more anxious afterwards. Anxiety is such a complicated beast!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Chloe08

 

If you can, try to find an anxiety-savvy person to mind you dog, preferably in your house or otherwise in theirs. Anxious dogs do better in a familiar environment. What I would do if your friends or family don't fit the bill is see if a rewards-based / positive reinforcement / force free trainer can mind her or ask them for recommendations. The safest option is to find a Delta qualified trainer, PPGA member and/or APDT member. You can search for trainers on their websites.

 

If looking at other trainers' websites watch for red flags: talk of "balanced training" or creating a "balanced dog" (it's a misnomer), selling check chains or photos or dogs wearing them or saying they can be used in classes, pack theory or dominance stuff, and anyone who sounds like a Cesar Milan wannabe, e.g. talk about "exercise, discipline and affection in that order" or "calm and assertive leadership".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you. I will have to do some calling around I think. You are so right I need someone who understand anxious dogs. She is not that easy to manage so it needs to be the right person. I shall start with Delta. Thank you for the advice. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh another group you could ask are vet nurses as some do house sitting. Not that all may be good with anxious dogs but they certainly have potential. When we go away Malcolm's favourite vet nurses visit him on days when our sitter works long hours. They and Malcolm love it. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for this idea. I will speak to the vet nurses when we pop in for our "getting better at the vet" session. I probably sound over protective to most but I don't want her to go completely backwards after all the hard work. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Question: have any of you used rescue remedy? I tried it last night for guests and again for today for dog school - to help with Thistles "left out anxiety" when she sees me leaving with Thyme. She ate her pig leg in the car! and didnt destroy my hat I had accidentally left in the car (previously she was so upset at being left out she ignored the pig leg and ate a seat belt...)

 

Seems to have taken the edge off, it was particularly noticeable around 2pm when I walked into the lounge and it didn't turn into a spinning whirlwind of bouncing dogs competing for my attention. They both jumped a bit then quickly and politely sat and I was able to reward them for being so well mannered.

 

Less over excited wagging too (happy tail...)

 

I'm thinking keeping her on it for about 6 weeks to try and instil a solid calm routine and solidify that she's not going to be "left out".  The earlier ones I gave in her treats, but thinking just adding the drops to the water as it doesn't seem like it should negatively affect the puppy?

 

What do you guys think?

 

20583211_265186670665078_586319033687605

two dogs who are CERTAINLY not in the kitchen....

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh they are so beautiful! I have tried the Rescue Remedy spray both myself (didn't feel an effect but at the time I was both on anti-depressant/anti-anxiety meds [Leaxapro] and codeine based pain meds so that doesn't surprise me) and also on a high anxiety shelter dog, who possibly relaxed more than usual but it was hard to judge given the limited time I could spend with her vs a dog I lived with. I've anecdotally heard good results from plenty of people for both dogs and humans though so if it seems to be working I'd go for it, I don't think it would cause any harm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been a long time for an update from me.

 

Dozer is being his quirky self, he's currently tucked up in our bed under the blankets having a conversation with Bella the German shepherd next door (While still fully under the blankets).

 

The neighbours on the other side have at least one rude little dog who barks at me through the fence, but Dozer doesn't mind it, and doesn't fence fight.

 

We're planning on a Bali holiday in November and have checked out a local pet motel. They have three types of rooms, the middle range one looks perfect for Dozer, it's their rain forest wing, where they play soothing forest noises 24/7  and it's specifically designed for anxious dogs.

 

No mixed play times unless requested either, and the option to add on canine massage or puptails (how can I resist?!). They also offer a variety of different food like raw feeding, dog rolls or their own high quality kibble, or we can send Dozer along with his own food.

 

Sounds like heaven to me, I doubt Dozer will want to come home.

 

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Look!! She has never met this person before, this is after only a couple of hours

 

20902116_264688197367905_917622821666108

 

(and her initial greeting was cautious leaning approach with slow wagging tail versus stiff stare off + growl/barks + putting herself to bed)

 

:) 

 

previous brave girl. think the training x thyme presence x rescue remedy combo really helping her to relax

 

also i spilt adaptil the day before, unintended.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...