Difficult situation RE dog reactivity

[damnderek]

Please be sensitive. I've nc as this is difficult. We have 2 rescue dogs. One is a collie type. We've had him 3.5 years. I take him to the stables and I used to run with him. He gets at least twice a day walks. Fed good quality diet.

He's always been reactive but it appears to be getting worse. He first snapped about 2 years ago. Unprovoked. Really strange. Frightening. He just turned and snarled at my son. I was there, watching.

He is very collie-ish in nature. Sensitive and herdy. Anyway this seems to now be getting more frequent and aggressive. He hasn't bitten anyone but he jumps and snaps as if started. He'll then slink away grumbling.

We have tried meds and some alternative stuff like zyklene. He is on long term loxicom. We've had training and a behaviourist home visit. We've taken him to the chiropractor, used plug ins, collars, thunder shirts etc. We have a stair gate to keep him out of the lounge if we're busy (using wii for eg). He's scared of peoples feet as we think he's been kicked in the past.

Last night after kids were in bed he was next to me on the sofa. Twice he jumped and snapped. Like I'd frightened him. Definitely not provoked.

We have had a long discussion and frankly I'd like to pts now. He's 8 and I think he's in pain. Chronic, not acute but in the background making him cross. (Fair enough).

We're going to increase pain meds, and review in a month but I'm on bloody eggshells.

I don't really enjoy walking him now as he's reactive to other dogs. He's fine with dog 2 at home, but meeting other dogs is unpredictable. Worse on lead. I can control him. Nobody else is at risk but it's pretty miserable.

Thanks for reading but please can anyone suggest anything we haven't tried or give some thoughts about when enough is enough.

Well done on working through all of this with your dog.
We have a difficult dog (different issues but without careful handling, she could hurt someone).

We’re still at the working through it stage but it’s hugely stressful so I just wanted to offer solidarity, whatever the outcome is for you.

You're doing all the right things. He's obviously in a lot of discomfort. When you think that dogs are usually quite stoic, to be at the point of attacking, he must be in a lot of pain.

Another thing to try, a memory foam bed. Depending on what the vet advises, you could try hydrotherapy?

He's obviously a very active dog and the reduction in his exercise might also exacerbate his behavioural problems so another thing to consider

Oooh I hadn't thought of hydrotherapy. I bet that would really help.

I like the sound of a new bed, but He doesn't really sleep in one place. We've moved his bed this weekend but he's ignored it. He likes to be in a ball on the sofa.

We did discuss not letting him up but it's rather difficult to police.

And yes he is very active, but he's easy to stimulate mentally. Puzzles, kongs etc.

We also really encourage sniffy lead walks. I think not hurling himself is likely to help him, not frustrate him. Hopefully!

My PIl collie is 11 and very reactive- she recently had some teeth out - must have been in pain as a lot better now but she's still a highly strung madam.

When they do xray he'll be under General Anaesthetic do hopefully they'll take the opportunity to have a good root around for any other problems. Teeth is always the first thing we check with horses.

Never occurred to me that dog might have a problem.

Hi

It might be worth asking about the teeth. My PIL have a much much better dog now.

Remove all the teeth and then he won't be in pain and can't inflict much damage even if he tries

(Lighthearted)

"This poses another question that if it works and he quietens down then what kind of life is that being drugged long term?"

Longterm painkillers to prevent pain that also affects behaviour isn't IMO drugging to prevent the behaviour, it's treating a medical condition...

My dog is on painkillers for a couple of medical issues, it does make him less reactive, but, only because the pain is better - all the stuff that is now learned behaviour he still does, he isn't drugged, he's just not in the same pain as without them.

Thanks. I did ask the vet about long term pain meds (bearing in mind he's already on loxicom) and yes, I've been enlightened that this could be a viable option.

It'll be interesting to see what X-rays tomorrow bring.

I've just ordered a magnetic collar. One of those things that I thought can't hurt can it? Bit woo, but some people swear by them.

He seemed much happier and quieter yesterday. Another quiet day with a couple of sniffy lead walks planned today

@rightsaidfrederickII

Bugger. He just growled at Ds when he moved his feet.

Handhold from me. Behaviour problems in dogs are so difficult to live with.

My whippet has anxiety, mainly separation anxiety. Luckily he’s a very gentle and affectionate dog and I don’t think I’ve ever heard him growl at a person. Around other dogs he can border on reactive at times but he goes to a couple of daycares and they say he’s boisterous and plays rough but isn’t aggressive.

It’s so hard to know what the right thing to do is. We get these animals and commit to them but at the same time we as owners need to consider our quality of life and mental health as well.

Thanks. I'm sitting in a secure field (hired) with dog 2 now. Left dog 1 at home after short lead walk. Feeling a bit deflated.

On the same lines as hydrotherapy, there's a reactive dog in my dog's obedience class who's been helped by massage - therapist has also taught the owners how to do a bit at home & they do a bit most days (she also had some problems with chronic pain and they think she seems happier now).

Oh yes. He has seen a chiropractor previously.

He's just growled at DD as she sat on the sofa (she was in bed but came downstairs as she's hungry). He's not helping himself right now.

I'm so fed up. But I'm guilty as I feel he must be in pain. But then I think he's unhappy and it's my duty to try everything I can to fix it.

But he's growled at both my kids today.

In his defence as a pp said it's signal to go away and leave him alone, but she was sitting there eating a banana. Argh!

I've had my amazon delivery so at 7pm he had zyklene, adaption collar and magnetic collar put on, and adaption plug in.

I was hoping for an instant improvement

*adaptil

OP, perhaps this is a bit of a non-standard suggestion, but I was reading the other day about a Dogs Trust scheme called 'The Sanctuary', which is for dogs that prefer to live away from humans; I suspect all or most of them have significant reactivity issues.

As your dog is able to live with other dogs, do you think it's an option you might consider instead of PTS, if the Dogs Trust also felt he might be suitable for the scheme and you were able to sort out the pain issues?

www.dogstrust.org.uk/our-centres/salisbury/centre-updates/blog/sanctuary

Hi OP. My last dog had hip dysplasia and hydrotherapy was the only thing that helped him. Pain meds made him very unhappy and we had a few growling episodes. I stopped giving him those and took him to hydrotherapy and he was fine. Not saying that you should stop the meds, just that you should consider the hydrotherapy bit. Good Luck!

Thanks both @rightsaidfrederickII that'd be his 4th home (at least) I couldn't pass him on as he'd be stressed and disorientated. He's so sensitive.

I'm keeping an open mind about what tomorrow brings (honestly) but I'm just finding it hard going (and he probably is too)

Thank you for all posts though. I do really appreciate them.

@damnderek hope it went well.

Thanks. Vet was great at drop off. No news yet.

Also hoping you find out what’s causing the problem and that it’s easily remedied.

How old are your DCs? (Sorry if you said earlier) .

That's ok. Thanks for asking DC are 8&10

Just got back. X-rays showed nothing. Nothing at all. I saw them myself.

He's fine in himself at home, just given him tea. Going to go back tomorrow to PTS.

Teeth were checked (and cleaned!) oh and blood tests.

All normal. No pain. Nothing to treat. Nothing to try.

Vet was amazing. Said it could be sciatica neuropathic type pain, but nothing tangible to go on.

My gut fielding is that I don't trust him anymore, and as a pp said I don't want him to be a 'bad dog'. I want him to be remembered as a good boy who became unhappy and stressed. That we did the kindest thing. And safest.