Reactive dog

[Mortifyed]

we have a 2 year old dog, she’s a golden retriever and beautiful. We have sought training to help her walk properly on her lead and she has come on leaps and bounds. The problem we have is she is very, very reactive to bikes and scooters and it sounds absolutely awful. Because of this she is always on a lead, I don’t trust her to be off her lead, I’m not sure what she would do but she sounds horrendous and is lunging and growling at the bike/scooter, although not always, sometimes she can be perfect. I feel so on edge, I walked her this evening and she sounded and looked so very aggressive. I have contacted the trainer again for further sessions but am mortified what people may think if they saw her earlier. I can’t get over the feeling or overwhelming anxiety over it. In all other respects she is almost the perfect dog. I don’t know what im asking to be honest. Can anyone else relate? Thank you.

Do you have a halti on her? You can buy just the halti head harness or buy a halti lead, which I found easier. Much easier to control your dog and will not hurt her.
Also anticipate the approaching problem — bike or whatever — and talk to your dog. I use ignore the xxxx and walk on. You just repeat it, low pitch to your voice. Don’t raise your voice, use a high pitch— to a dig that says yay! Let’s go hunt, let’s go kill.
When you feel confident walk your dog up and down a road, just one road, for about an hour saying the same thing over and over. Going over the same territory gives them confidence that the bike, bus etc. isn’t going to kill them.

Lead I used on my dog. Game changer. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dog-Field-Figure-Halter-Collar/dp/B00N4WGAL4/ref=asc_df_B00N4WGAL4/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309950281379&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13688472639020723270&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007462&hvtargid=pla-535119662565&th=1

We had exactly this problem with our golden. It was definitely fear based. We just left bikes and scooters lying around in the garden where she went out to the toilet and then started riding them around and feeding her treats once she had had a chance to sniff them and work out they weren't scary. She's fine about them now 😊

Desensitisation.
High value treats, every time she sees a bike/scooter get her attention and reward her. You are aiming for her to automatically look at you when she sees a bike as she knows she will get a rewards.
Start with a fair distance between her and the bike, then as she improves and starts looking for the treat, get closer.

This fixable :)
And fixable with gentle positive training :)
You need a Positive ONLY (IMDT or similar) behaviourist trainer.

As the owner of a reactive I would suggest you joing the ReactiveDogsUK group on FB which is run by incredibly knowledgeable folk who can give you contacts for a suitable trainer in your postcode. There is also a wealth of info and support there. Can't recommend it enough!

Google the CARE protocol. In a nutshell it.s about creating enough distance (usually a lot further away that you think) from the scary thing, and pairing it with a positive thing (best treat ever) to start a positive association. It works. It's not a quick fix but it works and is better than controlling your dog with anything aversive... there is a lot more to it than that but that's the essence.

My dog was reactive to , well most things., strangers, strange dogs, hi vis, sunglasses, plastic bags.... now she is just a bit temperamental with strange dogs and it's easily managed. But making them face their fears does not work. Yes you need to control her, of course you do ( a y shaped harness like Pefect Fit is better for their necks so they don't damage themselves if they lunge) but with the help of a good behaviourist she will learn not to be afraid... and you will learn not to be anxious of her behaviour.

You do need to grow a thick skin though, it takes time. :)

Thank you all for your replies. I will look into the lead @AgrathaChristie . We currently use a normal collar as when she has a harness she used all her weight to pull, she doesn’t do that now she is trained with a collar but I am happy to give anything a try! My husband took her out this evening and the same group of kids (well 13/14 years) stopped in front of her and were goading her so that doesn’t help! She did growl and go crazy. One bike she seems not too bad with. I put a couple of bikes out in the garden today and a scooter and was riding then around and wheeling them about and she was absolutely fine with them. @StillMedusa i have joined the Facebook group you recommended, thank you. We need to help her overcome this for all of our sakes.