Dog reactivity

[Donna-Marie]

Does your dog react against others, if they did and you’ve gotten them past it , how?
It’s heartbreaking for me to see Freya desperately wanting to play with other dogs, but right now I can’t let her.
She wasn’t socialised as a young puppy and just doesn’t understand other dogs. She sees dogs and immediately dives in she has no understanding of boundaries or if they tell her woah back off a bit, she just continues to throw herself right in, then when they warn a little more serious she jumps from I wanna play straight to anxious I’ve gotta attack before they get me!
It’s really hard because even when I tell other dog owners in advance she’s reactive 9/10 I get oh it’s fine, he can look after himself then of course when Freya’s trying to get to or is starting to fixate on their dog unless I’m extremely quick ( and lucky sometimes) she lunges and now Freya being the stigma breed is at fault. We are working on it and our trainer is amazing but it is a work in progress and will take time.

I’m asking if any of your dogs have the same issue because it would be nice to know im not alone in this and any advice on stopping it is welcome.

 

[Lennie. U.K.]

Yeah! Jeffo was very reactive, from rescue. The thing is you can't socialise any dog without the help of other dogs. What I did was walk with the other dog, so both are on leads, you don't have to know the person, just explain the reason I have never been refused. Most people just stand there in the Park, and wait for it to all kick off, and it does. but if you are walking you are always in control, that is the only safe way to socialise an older dog that is reactive. The trainer should advise on this, also you don't have to walk far, 100yds and on to the next, I have made some really good friends, in this situation. It took Jeffo about 3-4 months doing this, now he is off the lead with no problem although I still keep an eye on him if I don't know the other dog. It's not a couple of days to fix though. Good luck!

 

[Donna-Marie]

Yeah! Jeffo was very reactive, from rescue. The thing is you can't socialise any dog without the help of other dogs. What I did was walk with the other dog, so both are on leads, you don't have to know the person, just explain the reason I have never been refused. Most people just stand there in the Park, and wait for it to all kick off, and it does. but if you are walking you are always in control, that is the only safe way to socialise an older dog that is reactive. The trainer should advise on this, also you don't have to walk far, 100yds and on to the next, I have made some really good friends, in this situation. It took Jeffo about 3-4 months doing this, now he is off the lead with no problem although I still keep an eye on him if I don't know the other dog. It's not a couple of days to fix though. Good luck!

Thankyou, our trainer is really helpful, this week she had a couple of clients whose dogs had previously been reactive and with different personalities come help along with her dog.
Her dog Molly is the matriarch of all dogs and stands no nonsense and is calm with it, it’s quite funny to watch her. Freya knows her and after the first greeting and Molly calms her down she responds better with other dogs a bit better. Freya will try to dominate the other dogs but Molly intervenes and Freya is starting to watch how the other dogs interact together. At the moment it’s too risky to walk with unknown dogs, she’s in an awkward place atm. She’s starting to understand agressive dogs now but of course goes straight into fight mode. It’s a positive she’s learning the language but it’s a matter of teaching her to be calm in those situations.
We will get there, she’s an intelligent and good natured girl, it just takes consistency and patience on my side, patience is the bit I sometimes struggle with. It’s not easy trying to stay calm when she’s ignored the usual commands and is 22 kg of pure muscle charging like a bull

 

[2BullyMama]

You are on track… it just really takes some time! Stay consistent and you’ll be there in no time

 

[Lennie. U.K.]

Keep on going, it will be worth it in the end