Reactive dog - is 5 years old too old to change?

[Furiousfive]

We have an almost 5 year old cockapoo. He's always been nervous of larger dogs but generally playful and friendly with smaller ones, but over the past year he's become more reactive and snappy with all sizes; not all dogs but it's unpredictable how he'll react when one approaches.

I consulted a behaviourist during lockdown but she wanted me to video the behaviour before she'd come and see him in person (and I didn't really feel comfortable with letting him act like a dick to some poor dog while I just filmed!).

We've now moved and I'd really like to tackle this, but at 5 years old, is the behaviour too ingrained now? Part of the problem is that he gives little warning - rarely growls - but goes straight in to have a pop, so as this is a practiced behaviour presumably it'll be hard to stop it Sadly? Sadly we don't have any local friends with friendly dogs so can't socialise him on a regular basis.

It's not too late. We managed to improve a reactive dog massively when he was about seven or eight. Someone we knew was a dog trainer and she gave us lots of advice and help. It's a case of rewarding calm behaviour while at the same time working out the trigger distance for your dog, and gradually reassuring the dog that it's all fine and other dogs can be closer to him and it's still all fine.

I think it depends on how you define ‘change’

I imagine you can get him comfortable with dogs at close range but as for actually greeting and interacting with other dogs, no, I’m not at all convinced that is possible for many dog aggressive dogs.

I think it’s largely a management issue myself

I consulted a behaviourist during lockdown but she wanted me to video the behaviour before she'd come and see him in person (and I didn't really feel comfortable with letting him act like a dick to some poor dog while I just filmed!).

Honestly this is a bit of an amber flag - a good behaviourist won't routinely ask you to stress your dog out for the sake of a video.

I'd recommend contacting someone properly qualified
apbc.org.uk/find-an-apbc-member/
www.asab.org/ccab-register

This is only really one year of reactivity, rather than 5 years of it, which is positive. You should absolutely be able to achieve some signficant improvement, and learn new management and training techniques that make everyone's life less stressful.

If possible I would like to be able to let him off the lead without havig to be hyper vigilant about other dogs around. When we haven't spotted one, he
sometimes barrels over to other dogs (always leaded as he knows they can't get him somehow) and circles them barking his head off and is really difficult to recall. We'd also like to make him feel more confident on lead when others come over as his tolerance is very low.

It's good to know the behaviour can be changed though. Its definitely got worse during lockdown as he's mixed less and become less sociable (like a lot of us, lol).

If you don't feel comfortable from the onset with the behaviourist trust your instinct. Your dog is not too old to change. It won't happen overnight and remember it's not just your dog that's reactive many dogs are. It's an issue I'm dealing with my dog. Wading through so called behaviourists and trainers is a nightmare as many are not qualified. Research is the key google the qualifications.