Please talk to me about your reactive dog....

[brucebogtrotter]

Hi all

We adopted a Border Terrier one year ago. We don't know anything about his past, but from the word go he was extremely reactive towards other dogs - lunging, snapping, barking frantically - the works.

I took him to a dog trainer who specialised in reactive dogs, and she was brilliant: she gave me lots of advice about handling him, responding when he reacts and looking out for his stress signals. So, a year down the line, he is still reactive, especially at a close distance, but he calms down a lot more quicky and can bear other dogs at a reasonable distance.

However. In the last few months, he's bitten my husband twice while in the middle of a reactive frenzy, and today he bit my mum in the same circumstances :(.

I don't know what to do. I'm scared he might bite again, and I don't understand why it's suddenly started happening. My brother has now vetoed the dog being anywhere near my nephew (understandable) and is suggesting the dog be put down. :'(

Any experience/advice from others? Thanks in advance.

Muzzle him, honestly, it's loads easier to manage with a muzzle on, and has the added bonus of advertising to other owners that they need to keep their dog away.

Given the same circumstances he probably will bite again, that doesn't make him anymore of a problem than he was already, it's just that when they're in that state, they're so aroused and stressed out that anything or anyone is going to get the same reaction as the dog that's stressing them out.

My dog has huge issues and if I go near his head while he's trying to get another dog, he'll redirect on to me...he wouldn't dream of doing it in any other state and you see him almost stop and recognize that it's me a few seconds later, but at the time, he's just not in control of himself.

I'd also advise seeing a qualified behaviourist rather than a trainer, they should be able to help you improve him more than you have already.

Yes, that's it exactly - normally he's a beautiful, affectionate dog - he just totally loses control of himself. The muzzle is something I hadn't considered actually, thank you. I'll try anything to help him.

Here's a video on muzzle training...if you do it right, they should be completely happy to put one on and wear it.

It does limit fetch games (I use a glove as he can fit that through, lol) but you can still do training and give treats...and of course there will be times and places while out where it could be off anyway.

It makes me much more relaxed, which is handy for training purposes as well as they pick up stress from you as well.

Worth looking at the CARE for reactive dogs website - really helpful resources.

Thanks both for those links. I'll investigate.....

If this is new behaviour I would think that you are too close to his triggers. It could be that you have relaxed and pushing him slightly outside of his comfort zone. Go back to giving bigger spaces between dogs and all the methods you have been taught to bring down his stress levels.

I wold go back to basics for several months.

Do use a muzzle BUT you need to be working with him at a stage where he is not reacting not using the muzzle to prevent injury

Yes - when my mum walked him, she got too close to another dog (my fault, I shouldn't have let her walk him) and I think that's what triggered the frenzy and bite, whereas I would have turned around or crossed the road to avoid that face-to-face contact.

I don't think he'll ever not react, to be honest. I think I just have to accept that that's how he is, to a large extent, and manage the behaviour as best I can. Back to basics it is for a while. Thank you.