Reactive/ nervous dog survival thread

[Dobbyafreeelf]

Anyone up for a supportive/ ideas thread for those of us with nervous or reactive dogs?

I have a 19 month old Romanian rescue dog. A mix of terrier and lurcher. She's been with me since she was six months old. Currently on day 2 of a week's decompression after quite a big set back. She's nervous primarily around people but also dogs. I've been working with an amazing behaviourist trainer for over a year and we're making slow but steady progress.

What training have you been given? My dog suddenly started jumping on other dogs completely randomly. It could be linked to being barked at aggressively by my sister’s dogs but it’s just so completely unlike her. She used to play happily with others and now she does for a bit but sometimes just tries to jump on them. She’s small and ineffective and obviously I keep her away now but does that mean she’s reactive as I think it comes from anxiety?

Is your trainer experienced in foreign rescues? A year of this is a reasonably long time for a dog that was allowed to be homed, did it come via foster or straight off the van? I know someone fantastic with Rommies if you get stuck op.

@BringPizza

Is your trainer experienced in foreign rescues? A year of this is a reasonably long time for a dog that was allowed to be homed, did it come via foster or straight off the van? I know someone fantastic with Rommies if you get stuck op.

My trainer is very experienced and has been amazing throughout. Sometimes these dogs have issues which don't always show up immediately. So I don't think a year is excessive.

Is she on any meds? We use tryptophan tablets for our terrified Rommie, and after a few weeks we are sure we saw some improvements.

She's been with us about a year as well, and every week there's still a new change to her behaviour - a little improvement - like sitting on the scary footstool she's run away from for a year! We did NOT see that one coming, she just got up there like the cat!

She's been on the tablets about 4mths now and we're going to stay on them for the foreseeable.

You have my full support and empathy! Reactive dog owners are an extremely amazing group of people. No one unless they have had a reactive dog realises the huge amount of time (and money) and sacrifices people make to help give their dogs a better life.

(I agree a year is not long)

Although a reactive dog many many years ago totally changed my outlook on life, dog training and my occupation so I have a huge amount to thank him for

I have a 4 year old vizsla, reactive after having been bitten by off lead dogs 5 times before he was a year old.
It's bloody awful tbh and I'll never have another dog.

@RedCarsGoFaster

Is she on any meds? We use tryptophan tablets for our terrified Rommie, and after a few weeks we are sure we saw some improvements.

She's been with us about a year as well, and every week there's still a new change to her behaviour - a little improvement - like sitting on the scary footstool she's run away from for a year! We did NOT see that one coming, she just got up there like the cat!

She's been on the tablets about 4mths now and we're going to stay on them for the foreseeable.

No she's not. I'm very reluctant to put her on anything at the moment. She's just come off placid which she was on for 10 days and has set her back massively. Instead of helping her calm down she's fighting against it and is anxious and reactive to the point she can't cope even seeing another dog just now. Two months ago she was doing fantastically well and although there were a few things we were working on she almost felt like a 'normal' dog.

It's just these - they are crushed up in her meals, with plenty of gravy to hide the taste. She doesn't bat an eyelid at that any more.

VetIQ Serene-UM Calming Tablets for Cats & Dogs 1-20kg x Size: 120 Pack www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CQ44KVL/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_S1E8A27PSF16MF99C19S?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

They do, but if you’re not an experienced foster (which you don’t appear to be) the dog shouldn’t have come straight to you from the transport. There’s no need to be defensive, the offer still stands if you ever want it.

@BringPizza

They do, but if you’re not an experienced foster (which you don’t appear to be) the dog shouldn’t have come straight to you from the transport. There’s no need to be defensive, the offer still stands if you ever want it.

Hey? How the hell do you work that out??? I set up a thread for those of us who have reactive dogs and might want to chat and swap ideas. Not to be fucking judged on my dog or whether I am an experienced owner!!!

It’s quite clear my dear. Look, I came on with an offer of help because a good number of 2-day course dog behaviourists have no clue about rommies. Whether that applies to yours I know not, hence the offer if you wanted it. There was no judgement, but your defensiveness speaks volumes about your confidence. I won’t come back since you’re feeling hot at but I am horrified at the routine use of drugs and ‘special’ collars on these dogs. I would judge you for either of those. Should you need a name I will always share it, until (if) you ask I’ll say no more. Thank you for taking in a poor soul .

@BringPizza

It’s quite clear my dear. Look, I came on with an offer of help because a good number of 2-day course dog behaviourists have no clue about rommies. Whether that applies to yours I know not, hence the offer if you wanted it. There was no judgement, but your defensiveness speaks volumes about your confidence. I won’t come back since you’re feeling hot at but I am horrified at the routine use of drugs and ‘special’ collars on these dogs. I would judge you for either of those. Should you need a name I will always share it, until (if) you ask I’ll say no more. Thank you for taking in a poor soul .

@BringPizza no you were judgmental and rude! At no point have I said I drug my dog - I don't and never would. She was on a herbal calmer which was recommended to me. 10 days in we have stopped it because she hasn't reacted well to it. I would never use any form of shock collar or similar.

I'm sure Dobby doesn't need me defending her, but I have to say I don't think she was being defensive, but bringpizza, you were extremely patronising at best imo.

I dont think Dobby need defending by my but such a shame that BringPizza you did need to be so patronising.

Reactive dog owners ALWAYS know their dog better than anyone else. They live with them 24/7.

It is bad enough in real life people that have only just seen your dog for 3 secs have the answer to deep issues let alone having to deal with it on what should be a supportive thread.

defending by me! - sorry

Ref drugs for anxious dogs - tryptophan is just the thing in turkey that makes you sleepy! For dogs, it's just some thing mild to help them chill a bit. It's not a cure. It's not drugging your dog. For a dog like my terrified pooch (who came from Foster BTW, just regressed MASSIVELY) it's a tiny thing to help her when literally any noise was making her jump.
Scuff your foot on the floor? Jump. Drop a pencil or fork? Jump.

I think it's a great idea for a thread. It would be good if people could post links to helpful Fb groups etc on here so they're easy to find.

I have a rescue lurcher who is nervous with people especially men, and fear reactive with other dogs on the lead. He's improving gradually though. He prefers bitches and other sighthounds, doesn't like anything too hairy.

My lurcher is reactive to other dogs, when on the lead. She's always been like that, but it got much worse after she was attacked and quite badly hurt by an off lead Boxer in January. It's bloody exhausting, especially when other dog owners SEE you giving them a wide birth and then make a sodding beeline for you anyway! Or 'allow' their dog to drag them towards her while chuckling fondly about what a stubborn little tinker s/he is. While mine is going frantic.

Ok ok I've got to defend prescription meds for anxious dogs. In the same way they are useful to humans alongside therapy, meds CAN be useful to dogs alongside appropriate training. It's never one or the other but always both!

Ok stepping off that soap box. I'm always up for a supportive thread. I'll start with a proper intro!

My reactive dog is 3yrs, rescued puppy mill designer full breed tiny dog. He's got genetic physical and mental issues due to poor breeding and bad socialisation. He has attacked and bitten other dogs and me! We've done meds but they don't work on him due to what my (very very!) expensive vet behaviourist calls "bad luck and crossed mental wires". We manage his life and for the most part it's a good one. He'll never really get any better so full time management is the choice we've made.

I name change a lot but always happy to pop by and support others in the often fraught journey that is to be a guardian to a reactive and anxious dog!

My dog is also pretty anxious. Also using an expensive behaviourist!
I can thoroughly recommend the Facebook group Dog Training and Advice and Support. It's run by dog behaviourists in the UK. You have to read a lot of information- (a lot of helpful guides) when you join the group. I think there is a separate part of the group for reactive dogs.

@PollyRoullson I've seen your posts in other similar threads. Do you work in dog training?

Thanks everyone!

@RedCarsGoFaster & @comebaacksummer I agree that drugs have their place. I just don't feel they are right for my dog in our current situation. She had been improving nicely until I put her on this supplement. She's gone from being fairly low reactivity wise to everything being frightening in days. Three weeks ago a cardboard box falling off the sofa would have been investigated, then chewed to bits. Now it's run and hide in another room! She's gone backwards sooo quickly and across the board.

I do wonder if she is also wired differently. When she had piriton a few months ago that made her really hyper. Where as my Labrador goes completely dopey!

We saw our trainer a few days ago and decided that it was best to just let her decompress for a bit. Fortunately I have a good dog field nearby that I've been able to book most days this week so she won't have to deal with people or dogs for awhile.

[quote comebaacksummer]@PollyRoullson I've seen your posts in other similar threads. Do you work in dog training? [/quote]
Yes.

@PollyRoullson nice! I've always liked your posts & advice. Sounds like your reactive dog created a change in profession for you? I've considered doing a dog training course (?) as I've gotten so into dog behaviour due to my little rascal! But not found any I liked, could do while still working etc.

I have a moderately reactive dog. Not a rescue..had her from 9 weeks, from an excellent breeder; socialised , trained.. but a genetically reserved breed who became hugely reactive during her first season and never really recovered .
We have made decent progress with a good behaviourist (join the ReactiveDogsUK on FB if you haven't.. huge resources, great advice and also understanding!) but she will, I suspect always need to be managed carefully... she'll never like strangers and she will never be a dog I can just let loose in a park and know it will be ok!

BUT I also feel I genuinely have a better connection with her than I would have done had she been an 'easy' dog. I have learned to read her body language SO much better. I can pick up on her mood so quickly now and judge when and where we walk accordingly.
I have discovered amazing off lead isolated places where she and I hear nothing but birds and squirrels, and away from the dogs that make her anxious (and growly) she is the happiest, best companion imaginable.

I also discovered, upon joining the reactive dogs group, that there are SO many reactive dogs out there.. it wasn't just mine. Some are rescues, many are not, many have had good families from tiny pups, but either incidents, or genetics or a combo has developed into reactivity, and any and all breeds can be reactive.

Life would be easier if mine was more relaxed, but I wouldn't swap her for the world.