Demon cavapoo

[Laurainlondon]

Hi, lots to say about our puppy, we bought her having heard such amazing things about the breed, and while in many ways she's a total dreamboat (affectionate, super smart, picked up toilet training etc. and everything real quick) shes also a total monster when it comes to other dogs.
Ever since we first had her she was terrified of other dogs (seemed really confident with her littermates, but was one of the smallest ones) and it's now got the point that if she sees a dog in our building complex, she either attacks, barks like a demon, chases, generally looses her sh*t. We're now on our 3rd dog trainer, who is really rather good but we still can't take here ANYWHERE indoors (cafe, pub, hotel) as if another dog appears she will be uncontrollable and LOUD. Has anyone else had a similar experience/any ideas what we should do? Before you ask we took her to all the puppy training sessions, tried to socialise her, read all the books, did all the reccommended Training stuff (except crating - she was quick to learn toilet training so we didn't need to, and she really hated it.). We're at our wits end and if i thought anyone would take her we'd honestly probably have rehomed her by now, but I just don't thing anyone would be able to handle her and I can't bear to think of her being given to a 'pound' .

[BaldricksCoffee]

I am utterly gobsmacked that anyone could equate owning a badly-behaved dog with giving birth to a disabled child.

[Letsgetreadytorumba]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one, I thought I was in a parallel universe for a bit there.

OP, I really hope you find a way forward, I don’t know much about dogs but it does sound like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew.

[RussellTheLoveMuscle]

I second Avocado's advice to join Reactive Dogs Uk on facebook. Brilliant group and everyone's so supportive.

If you read and follow their file on CARE (counter conditioning) you can help her learn to feel better about dogs. It's all done at her pace and will take time and work but worth every second. Good luck!

[Booboostwo]

I have a dog reactive GSD. He came from a great breeder, both parents are lovely, none of the other litter mates have a problem, he was socialized extensively and trained correctly. He is brilliant off the lead but very difficult on the lead. He did it on his first walk and hasn’t really improved despite specialized help.

Is your dog better or worse on lead? It might be worth trying different types of collars, harnesses, headcollars, etc as sometimes the type of restriction makes things worse.

What strategies have the trainers recommended? Counter-conditioning, desensitization, distraction, BAT? Each one takes a few months of practice to see if it works before moving onto the next one and she’s only 1 which is no time at all.

[tabulahrasa]

I have a reactive dog and a child with disabilities - I’m actually struggling to put into words how horrendous and untrue that comparison is tbh...

[Wolfiefan]

I’m not down on cross breeds. I grew up with one. My mum researched the very worst of each breed to see if she could live with it. Too many people want poodle crosses in particular for the reasons adaline says.
We went for a walk in a very popular dog place today. Far too many matted poodle crosses.

[Nesssie]

The Doghouse is critical of anyone who doesn't get a pedigree dog from a 5 year waiting list.... And of course they must have at least 3 good reasons why they aren't adopting a staffie or lurcher from a rescue centre...

Posters are so involved with making their feelings about breeders and crossbreeds known that they distract the thread, scare off the OP and stop the good advice being seen.

[Wolfiefan]

I’m critical of anyone who puts their desire above animal welfare.

[chickensaresafehere]

Well done Avocados you win today's award for the most inappropriate,insensitive comment on MN today 
Fuck,what is wrong with some people!
Think before you press 'post'.

[Nesssie]

The problem is, posters saying what the op has done wrong, what they should have done etc doesn't help the problem. Its distracts and often scares them off and the dog/puppy doesn't get the help.
I think everyone on here knows your views, so what is the point in repeating it on every single thread.

This thread for example is not helping the op at all.

[Wolfiefan]

But it might make someone else think twice.

[YuhBasic]

Getting her to lie down when another dog is near is a pretty terrible idea. What on Earth sort of “behaviourist” came up with that??

[toherdoor]

The Doghouse is critical of anyone who doesn't get a pedigree dog from a 5 year waiting list.... And of course they must have at least 3 good reasons why they aren't adopting a staffie or lurcher from a rescue centre...

Posters are so involved with making their feelings about breeders and crossbreeds known that they distract the thread, scare off the OP and stop the good advice being seen.

This. The second I saw the word 'cavapoo' I thought here we go - another thread bashing cross breeds instead of helping the op.

Op you can't rehome a dog just because you don't get the feels of taking it to a pub. Take him on quiet walks, stop forcing situations on him that stress him out.

[Wolfiefan]

It has nothing to do with cross breeds. And all to do with putting animal welfare above your selfish desires. I didn’t get a dog when my cat was elderly. I didn’t shop online for a dog. I wouldn’t use a backyard breeder or a puppy farm. It’s an ethical issue for me.

[Upupupwithafish]

Our Golden Retriever became very reactive when she was about two. This was a nightmare as she was so large and everyone expected a GR to be super friendly. ( I once was dragged into the road in front of a car as she tried to get to another dog). This was not just barking, she would actually attack the other dogs and pin them down. She had come from a good breeder and had been well socialised.

The first thing we did was look at how we ( actually my DH) was treating her. He absolutely adhored her and totally spoilt her so we stopped her sleeping in our bed and started treating her like a dog which did make a difference to her obedience.

I started walking her at times when there were few dogs around and on streets with very wide roads so any other dog would be at a distance. Initially I kept a close eye on who was coming up and changed direction if necessary, I then moved onto giving her a treat if I saw a dog so she was distracted and she started associating dogs with something nice. VERY gradually I started to delay the treat so ultimately she would see a dog and look at me for a treat. Eventually I was able to walk closer to other dogs but it took two to three years before I felt relaxed enough to pass a dog on the same pavement. You always have to be prepared to go back a stage if there was a bad experience.

The other thing we did was, after working with her for a while, get a dog walker. I chose someone who I felt would be confident with a large dog that may react. We explained her problems as she lay on his feet waiting to get her tummy tickled and you could tell he thought we were making it all up! He never had a problem with her, she seemed to learn appropriate behaviour from the other dogs, he was firm with her and she was off lead so seemed to be just less reactive.

We did get there in the end but I still watch what dogs are around her but now she walks past dogs or goes to see them if she is off lead without reacting then comes and looks for a treat!

We did see a trainer who was quite old fashioned so we took what we thought was sensible advice from her and used common sense for the rest. I must admit I was close to giving up but we got there in the end. She now is walked regularly by a friend which is something I never thought would be possible. Unfortunately there are no quick solutions.

[missbattenburg]

Sorry OP, I asked you questions and then got distracted and never came back to you.

When I asked about environment, I was interested in what the very early experiences were like for your pup. They can be really influential over their later behaviours. For example, they may learn how to react to other dogs from the way mum reacts to them. The fact that you saw she was gentle and friendly is good.

I was interested in her breed, just to try and narrow down on the kind of dog she might have been – for the same reasons as above.

At a year old, I would think swift action is required. Not least because I think there is some belief that adolescent dogs (as yours is) become sensitive again to fear imprinting because of the hormone fluctuations that are going on. If this does happen, it is going to add to her struggle.

I think if she were mine I would:

• Absolutely progress with the focus training. It’s a great skill for the dog to have, anyway so is pretty risk free.
  
  
• Every time she gets too close to a dog and reacts you will be taking a step backwards, so the answer is to massively limit it as much as possible. Control her exposure to any dogs she isn’t 100% comfortable with. This means either avoiding them altogether or keeping her at such a great distance from them that she doesn’t react. In an apartment complex that might mean doing things like sending someone on ahead as watch out, or walking her at the quietest times.
  
  
• Find another behaviourist – really persevere to find one who is highly recommended and be prepared to travel to see them (don’t just limit to local area). It will be a pita but will be worth it. You want this to get better, not slowly get worse – which it might if handled badly. A good behaviourist will be able to watch you with the dog and offer you a solid training plan. For example, I could imagine that, by now, your own stress levels go through the roof when you see another dog, something your own dog may be picking up on and adding to her stress. A good behaviourist will spot this and help you feel more confident about handling that situation.
  
  
• That said, the advice you have so far seems good to me – treats when she does well, keep her focus on you, try to keep a large distance between you and the other dog. The lying down thing sounds odd to me, though.
  
  
• Follow the plan! As a pp said, be prepared to go back a step or two if your dog looks like she is struggling.

[Phuquocdreams]

I actually can’t believe that post comparing having a difficult dog to having a disabled child. Fucking hell. That has to be one of the worst things I’ve read on here.

[RedHelenB]

Things don't always pan out the way you expect them too is what the poster that mentioned the disability meant, but you still have the responsibility.

[Booboostwo]

An analogy does not have to be a complete similarity. So you can say that when you commit to dog ownership you have to take the smooth with the rough just like when you decide to have a child you love the child you get. It doesn’t mean a disabled person is a dog or that having a disabled child is identical to looking after a difficult dog. Just that commitment doesn’t stop when things get difficult.

[tabulahrasa]

Yeah it was the accuracy that was the issue

[Phuquocdreams]

I’m perfectly aware what the pp meant, it’s still an offensive comparison.

[RedHelenB]

Some people get professionally offended!

[Phuquocdreams]

Do you have disabled children in your own family, RedHelenB?
You’re right some people do get professionally offended, there’s a lot of it in the Doghouse, and a lot of it on this thread where people are so offended by the OP being frustrated with her dog that they see fit to make comparisons with disabled children.

[Booboostwo]

I have a disabled child and have had difficult as well as disabled pets...am I OK to not be offended by the comparison?

[Phuquocdreams]

Booboo, of course you’re ok not to be offended - are other people ok to be offended?