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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Reactive lockdown dog/puppy - anyone else?

24 replies

GetOutMySockDrawer · 11/11/2020 18:49

We have a puppy who arrived with us just before the first lockdown.
She's now 9 months old.

In the house/garden, with just us, she's amazing. Coming out of her bitey phase, being nice to the kids, affectionate, funny... totally in love.

She's really reactive out on walks, though - mainly with other dogs, but also sometimes at bikes/scooters/fast joggers. She sometimes tries to chase cars. She's also not keen on visitors at home - presumably because we weren't really able to socialise her to this stuff when she was young, because of lockdown (and now can't again).

We've had advice from a behaviourist and are trying to put it into practice, but it feels like she's a million miles away from being able to calmly walk past other dogs, and not bark at visitors.

I suppose I wondered if anyone else is in the same position?
TIA

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 11/11/2020 18:50

What advice have you had from the behaviourist?

HappyThursdays · 11/11/2020 18:51

My friend walks a 9 month old puppy in exactly the same situation. Apparently every time they pass another dog he growls.

I don't have any advice but do have a huge amount of sympathy. I actually think they should have allowed puppy classes to go ahead because there are a whole generation of dogs (including mine!) who have missed out on this v v v key socialisation time.

Well done you for getting professional advice and planning to sort it out. At least he has a good temperament and you know it is a socialisation issue.

GetOutMySockDrawer · 11/11/2020 18:52

@Wolfiefan, it's mainly been about distraction - e.g., scattering treats around to try to keep her attention away from other dogs - and being relaxed around her (trying not to tense up too much ourselves when we see a dog coming - this is hard, as I know she's about to lose it!)

OP posts:
GetOutMySockDrawer · 11/11/2020 18:53

@HappyThursdays - thank you for the kind message. Sorry (and also a little relieved Blush to hear your friend's experiencing the same.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 11/11/2020 19:08

I would think about changing your walks to minimise the things she’s reactive to right now. Have you heard of trigger stacking?

GetOutMySockDrawer · 11/11/2020 19:11

Interesting, @Wolfiefan - thank you. No, not heard of that...

OP posts:
Veterinari · 11/11/2020 19:32

@GetOutMySockDrawer

We have a puppy who arrived with us just before the first lockdown. She's now 9 months old.

In the house/garden, with just us, she's amazing. Coming out of her bitey phase, being nice to the kids, affectionate, funny... totally in love.

She's really reactive out on walks, though - mainly with other dogs, but also sometimes at bikes/scooters/fast joggers. She sometimes tries to chase cars. She's also not keen on visitors at home - presumably because we weren't really able to socialise her to this stuff when she was young, because of lockdown (and now can't again).

We've had advice from a behaviourist and are trying to put it into practice, but it feels like she's a million miles away from being able to calmly walk past other dogs, and not bark at visitors.

I suppose I wondered if anyone else is in the same position?
TIA

Totally predictable result of getting a dog when socialisation opportunities are restricted. Within the veterinary profession we're predicting a massive surge in post-COVID behavioural problems and pet relinquishment due to impulse-buying/improper socialisation/poor breeding. Hope we're wrong.

However you also can't out-socialise poor genetics - where is she from and what were her parents like?

What socialisation did you do?
I found due to wfh and needing to get out of the house each day that there were actually many more dogs out for walks during the day during lockdown - did she not meet any?
This socialisation checklist is very helpful and much of it can be done in a lockdown situation but it requires work.
drsophiayin.com/app/uploads/2015/12/Socialization_Checklist.pdf

If you have an accredited behaviourist who has assessed your dog, their advice will be better for you than MN posters

Veterinari · 11/11/2020 19:34

Trigger stacking:
www.albanypetservices.co.uk/so-what-is-trigger-stacking/

GetOutMySockDrawer · 11/11/2020 20:11

@Veterinari, thanks for the post.

To answer some of your points:

  1. She is from an ethical, well researched Kennel club breeder, her mum a loved family pet and her dad of certified "good character". This was very much planned, and committed to, before lockdown started.
  2. We took her out every day from day 1, but as she couldn't have her second jabs for months (no one would do it), she had to be carried and couldn't meet other dogs. She was already reactive once we were able to put her down. During the lockdown, we were told we weren't supposed to let dogs socialise, anyway. We played the exposure sounds on YouTube, and let her sniff around with the neighbour's dog as soon as it seemed appropriate. Already reactive, and I suspect made it worse. We enrolled her in face to face puppy classes as soon as we were allowed.
  3. I realise the behaviourists will be expert on this. I was posting for company/shared experience rather than advice per se (though advice is gratefully received).

Thanks again for the input.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 11/11/2020 20:23

@GetOutMySockDrawer
Sorry if my questions seem harsh but actually that's very helpful - with a good genetic basis there's more hope for her - some dogs will undergo a secondary socialisation phase as they reach puberty so for this reason as well as others I'd advise not to get her neutered until she's had at least one season, and up til that point work on positive social interactions with other calm and steady dogs (very playful 'friendly dogs can be very daunting) .

Depending on her level of reactivity you may need to work in counter conditioning over a distance first which I'm sure your behaviourist will advise you on.

Unfortunately the behavioural risks of longterm problems are probably greater than the risks of many infectious diseases for pups in the UK.

Just FYI, it's fine for pups to meet 'safe vaccinated' dogs prior to their own vaccination and in fact this is essential during the socialisation period.

Madbengalmum · 11/11/2020 20:35

Our pup is now 18months. We got him in the Autumn before lockdown, have 15yrs experience with the breed and met his mum and dad. Everything was fine with meeting people/ other dogs before lockdown. Afterwards it has been very difficult, as he has hit teenagedom, he has begun to growl if a stranger approaches him and talks directly to him. He is very scared of new people. Anyone he has met previously he loves. We are greatful he doesn’t lunge at people, rather the opposite he hides from them, but it will be a slow process getting him up to speed. He is improving and getting braver, but i do feel for him and feel your pain. It is confusing for them, he is keen to meet with other dogs and he isn’t allowed.

Veterinari · 11/11/2020 20:39

I'd definitely suggest that if you have friends/family with dogs and can meet safely outdoors that you do so and let dogs interact.

The risks of dogs bringing coronavirus in in their fur is theoretical and there's not been any cases where that has shown to be a reality. That risk has to be balanced against their welfare for the remainder of their lives

My local park seems to be a hub of pragmatism - there are still regular doggy 'meet-ups' there and whilst us humans remain socially distanced, the pups have a great time

Veterinari · 11/11/2020 20:45

Just to put my advice in context - research has shown that behavioural issues are the leading cause of death in dogs in the UK Sad

Reactive lockdown dog/puppy - anyone else?
Sitdowncupoftea · 15/11/2020 13:46

Firstly look for a qualified behaviourist. Do the research on their certificates and qualifications. A bad behaviourist or trainer can make the situation worse. Muzzle train your dog. Then all your dog can do for the time being is lunge it won't be able to bite. Your not alone in this many dogs are reactive and a lot of it is fear aggression. One of my dogs is the same. Its down to poor socialisation as a puppy as he was in a rescue til I adopted him. If any stranger comes too close he gets aggressive. I muzzle him in public. I don't do it to protect idiots who don't observe the 2m social distancing but to protect him. Mine is ongoing desensitisation but you need to protect your dog please muzzle. Its amazing how many idiots will walk up to stroke a dog without asking or not put their dog on a leash. Its something you need to work on so my advice is get a qualified behaviourist.

GetOutMySockDrawer · 20/11/2020 10:02

Sorry for the delay coming back to this thread, and thank you to everyone who's posted.

@Veterinari, that's encouraging about second socialisation periods - thank you. Also useful to read about trigger stacking (and thanks again @Wolfiefan). I'm glad you say that about neutering. I read some behavioural research and came to the same conclusion - she's not being neutered till after a season or two for this reason. In fact, she's in season now (which may explain some of her recent jumpiness??). I'd also read that research about behavioural issues being the leading cause of death - it's sad. It's frustrating that the guidelines were so completely physical health focused around the time of first lockdown. Our vet told us that they couldn't vaccinate, and that, until they could, we shouldn't even allow our pup in the garden because we have a lot of foxes (we flouted this in the end as it was unworkable).

@Madbengalmum, that sounds tricky, and must be frustrating, especially when you're so experienced, to see what lockdown can do. Thank you very much for posting.

@Sitdowncupoftea, thanks so much for posting. I hadn't really thought much about muzzling. We have a "nervous" bandana that we can put on her, and we're not taking her to places with dogs off-lead at the moment (she's in season). She's a small breed (miniature poodle), so looks fluffy and friendly, and it's hard to make sure people know not to just try to stroke her, but I hadn't thought about muzzling. Will read up about it. The person we got in was a qualified behaviourist (reputable organisation). We mostly focused on issues in the house at that point, which have mostly resolved now, but also did get the distraction advice about how to manage behaviour with other dogs. Perhaps we'll book another session outdoors if we can.

Your posts have given me extra impetus to make sure she goes for a walk with the calm and lovely dog of a friend at least twice a week (and me and the friend). She does bark frantically at the dog when we first meet them, but now quite quickly starts walking calmly beside her. Any frantic movements of the other dog, or any playfulness, and she barks again, but yesterday there was almost the start of calm/friendly bum-sniffing(!), so possibly some progress.

She's also getting a little better with cars (not jumping and trying to run after them) over time. Other people, she walks past quite well now (unless they try to stroke/approach her, in which case she cowers), unless they're on scooters/bikes/running very fast close to her (in which case she barks/strains).

Thanks again to all. Very grateful for any further thoughts/general company with this, too.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 20/11/2020 10:48

A behaviourist could also help. Some of that sounds like a frustrated greeter. There’s barking with excitement. Also aggressive or nervous.
Dogs aren’t simple!!

GetOutMySockDrawer · 20/11/2020 11:01

Thanks @Wolfiefan. Yes, I think she is complicated - like she's excited and nervous, and wants to greet but also wants to chase/scare them off? I can't really work her out. She wags her tail frantically (which I know can be associated with all sorts of different responses) as well as barking at other dogs. And with people, she loves the people she loves - she's all over us and wants to be with us as much as possible - but only once it's a fully accepted person (which takes a good while). So it seems like a sociable but anxious (and also slightly controlling?!) temperament combined with very high energy?

OP posts:
GetOutMySockDrawer · 20/11/2020 11:03

I think she's a very bright dog (as many of her breed are) and can out-think my training attempts sometimes... Hmm

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 20/11/2020 11:13

Definitely worth getting some help to “read” her behaviour.

GetOutMySockDrawer · 21/11/2020 10:48

Yes, @Wolfiefan, that makes sense. Will see if I can get behaviourist in to see it in action again.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 21/11/2020 11:05

Good luck OP.

HappyThursdays · 21/11/2020 11:56

what breed is she @GetOutMySockDrawer

GetOutMySockDrawer · 21/11/2020 17:27

Miniature poodle, @HappyThursdays

OP posts:
PollyRoulson · 21/11/2020 17:46

I hope things are getting easier.

Can I check it is unusual advice to be distracting a dog from the things that worry them. More usual to let the dogs see the triggers under threshold and then scatter the food. So trigger means good things not scary things.

If you just distract the dogs, the dog emotions stay the same and they are not be counter conditioned to feel a new emotion from the triggers.

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