Barky, jumpy dog - please tell me, can it get better?

[Pleasehelpmehelpmydog]

Hi all,

our dog is almost 2. We’ve had her from 10 weeks old, but she was behind on her jabs, so she couldn’t go for walks (on the ground) until all her jabs were done. We still took her out and about carrying her, so she could see the world, and she’s been to puppy and adolescent training, and has lots of enrichment activities and at least one off-lead, sniffy walk a day, usually a run with one of us or a play with DH’s family’s dogs as well.

She just doesn’t seem to be able to settle properly. In the house, she barks at the slightest noise, at car doors or voices outside. If she sees anyone out of the window, she goes crazy, so we’re getting film for half the window.

I’m doing lots of training with her - we’re back at school for Obedience Level 2, and she does so well there - focuses on me, doesn’t bark at the other dogs, settles on the floor happily, properly relaxed. The trainer doesn’t seem to realise how unsettled she can be at the slightest noise at home because she doesn’t show it at ‘school’.

I work from home and it’s so hard to focus on my work because we live in a terrace and I’m constantly trying to distract her or calm her. I really really don’t want to be that neighbour and I also feel so guilty towards our dog.

I’m working really hard on our training and she’s having a calming supplement each day too in her lickimat as part of her enrichment. Can anyone offer reassurance that this will get better in time, if I keep working at it with her? I feel constantly on edge and I’ve cried today because I just don’t know how we can live like this. TIA.

@EdithStourton yes and yes 🤪 she’s a beautiful and loving girl but hard work and I need to do more to help her work her brain. I’ll take a look at all of those retrieve activities, that sounds great, thank you.

To the PP who suggested the protocol for relaxation, I’ve printed that too and we’ve given Day 1 a test run. So far so good!

@RedBonnet mine loves carrots too. She’ll also do anything for cheese and a little bit of fish, I’m trying not to use too many of the Wagg-type treats on her while we’re training, but she does love anything fishy.

Thank you so much for all of your help. I think all of us (DDog, me, DH, and the neighbours!) need this to work so I’m putting everything into it.

My two are on Forthglade dried kibble - both have got sensitive tummies and the duck one seems to be the one they tolerate best. We also use Country Hunter sachets as a topper, they get half a sachet each, and I'll add the odd scrambled egg, or tinned sardines in oil just so they don't get bored.

https://forthglade.com/collections/dry-dog-food/products/duck-grain-free-cold-pressed-natural-dry-dog-food

The older one used to suffer from dreadful bouts of colitis and touch wood we've not had one episode since being on the Forthglade. Their wet food is equally OK, mine just weren't overly fussed and prefer the county hunter one. We get 10% off for subscribing.

Thank you to all the PPs for your advice. We’ve had a much better day so far today. We’ve done Day 1 of the protocol for relaxation, and she’s had lots of treats for settling quietly, including when I was pottering in the garden. She even had a sleep earlier with the windows open and neighbours chatting outside which she wouldn’t have done before. So even one day (or half a day) of working on it and she’s improved already. She’s a clever girl and I think she will get there.

I’ve also ordered her some lower protein kibble to see if that helps her, and lots of exciting little treats to help with training.

Thank you again for your help and recommendations 😊 x

That's great news! Isn't it amazing how quickly things change with dogs - they are so willing and able to adapt.

When you asked yesterday if things get better in time I bet you couldn't have imagined how little time it would take.

Happy days with your lovely dog.

Thank you so much @BunnyBettChetwynnd 🙂 still a long way to go of course, but there was definitely a noticeable difference today. I took her mat to the beach this afternoon and DH went in the sea - she’d normally be inconsolable and yelp until he came back but she lay there the whole time (with encouragement). She did pop up and have a couple of barks but overall it was a definite improvement, and she’s tired out from her training and having a lovely sleep now.

I noticed a huge difference when I swapped to raw. We've tried a few but have settled on Bella and duke, it actually works out pretty reasonably if you can order a bit at a time.
I know raw isn't everyone's thing but it's made a huge difference to our dog.
He had skin and tummy issues before, the calmness was a welcome extra!

@Sarfar45 thank you, that’s really interesting, I was wondering if anyone was going to mention raw food as I think I’ve heard that before. I’m curious to give it a go, I’ll see how we get on with the new food and maybe try some with her after that 🙂 thank you

Have a look at the Spaniel Guru online, she does a session on finding your spaniel's off switch.

I have one too he used to be a pain but he's gradually learned when mum sits at the desk then there's nothing happening. I had had to blank him totally....no eye contact, nothing. But he has twigged that desk = mum is boring so he climbs into his bed under the desk and naps all morning.

He is just 2.

I'd also ask what you are doing out of the house to tire their brain out. I have found my off lead walk has turned into a training walk with various gundog exercises built into our session. He's absolutely shattered after this kind of exercise so is happy to sleep

Is yours a working or show type? That'll make a difference too.

I can't recommend it enough. It's really easy I just pop it out the freezer let it defrost and give him a 1/3 of a tray at each meal. He absolutely loves it and is absolutely thriving on it. His coat is so glossy!

Do not go with raw. It is absolutely the wrong thing to do. No balance of nutrients, no consistency, huge infection risk. I almost lost my dog to sepsis that was traced back to raw. Do not do it. Every vet I know thinks its fully nuts to do it.

If you want to do your own reading on a raw diet this website is good https://dogsfirst.ie/
My vet completely supports a proper raw diet.

We’ve had an absolute regression today, poor thing, and her reactivity has been awful. When it’s bad, I really feel like I’ve ruined my life but I have to get on with it to help her, because she can definitely do it. It’s just going to take consistency to break her habits.

I’ve put Rabbitgoo film up on the front window which seems to have instantly helped in the house, because she’s settled by herself in the living room which she didn’t do before.

But out and about on her walk earlier, she barked at dogs as soon as she got out of the car, she absolutely lost it at two people who came to sit near us and have a cup of tea (though she did calm down and I could settle her and reward her relaxing on the floor again, which is something). Then when we got home, there were two people on the opposite side of the road and a dog as well, so she just went into overdrive again and honestly I came in and had a cry.

But we’re going to do Round 2 of Day 2 of the protocol for relaxation in a bit in the garden, so she should hear some other noises mixed in to help with practice. I read at the start of the protocol that dogs can sometimes show worse behaviour for a few days before they get better, so I’ll keep persevering, it’s still very early days and I’m trying to keep in mind how much better she was yesterday.

Thank you all for your support! X

I can't add anything to pp's great advice, apart from to say dog training goes like this: Good days and bad days and consistency matters.

Also, look at yourself, is she worse when you are tense or stressed? She will probably be picking up on your emotion, which will make her reactivity worse, thus making you more stressed and so on. As hard as it is, try to stay relaxed. So she barked at a couple? Laugh it off, apologise to them if necessary, and (if it makes you feel better) say she's in training for reactivity. And then calmly reset the training and try again.

Hard to do, I know, but you'll get there:)

Now. I know when you had a bad day you want to fix it but dont do any more today. A little too much Id say today. You will learn to pace. A chill out for the evening or you will stack more experiences on each other- each stressful. Your dog cant make sense of today so give time to relax. That was not regession, just too much. Do you know about the 4 D's?

Great advice. Also you can wear a training vest or dog can so it saves embarrasment around behaviour. Ignore other people, its you and your dog that count.

Ah, I was waiting for Conor Brady link.....take a big read of his website.....
He is not a vet. He is a zoologist.
My vet and three of her colleagues are probably the most senior, qualified vets in this area in Ireland. In my dogs case he had septic arthritis caused by raw food, joint fluid culture matched raw food Bacteria. All of these vets and pretty much every vet who has looked at the reseach properly will say avoid raw food. There is absolutely no reason to feed it. None.

Thank you, both. I think honestly yes, I probably don’t help because I feel stressed and want to make it stop. Should I just take a deep breath and work to calm her with my voice and a bit of puppy massage (that’s what her teacher recommends at training school - not that she ever needs it there, ironically 😄), and then reset for a bit of focus and eventually a settle?

Everything @BunnyBettChetwynnd said. I was guilty of inadvertently rewarding the bad and ignoring the good. We had a behaviourist.

I used Arden Grange- terrible food for my Lab. He now has Forthglade dog dinners.

It will get better.

Would a morning walk help?

I use empty egg boxes with treats in. Cheap and cheerful. A Kong and at the height of his puppy insanity used a dog walker.

Dogs definitely really pick up on it when you are stressed. The single best thing you can do with your dog is to be calm and relaxed. I know it's so hard.....you expect your dog to react, you tense up, your dog picks up on it, your dog reacts.

If you stay relaxed, keep your body language neutral, breathe steadily your dog will trust you're calm and in control and won't need to react. Even if you're wound right up - fake it until you make it - your dog will believe you.

I reckon one of the reasons your dog is better at classes is because you hand over control to the trainer and you relax.

Thinks will get better. Stick with it.

Apologies to PPs. I've repeated some things which have just been said....I started the post then got distracted by my dog chasing a bee, didn't check back before posting.

Thanks so much @BunnyBettChetwynnd that’s definitely definitely something I need to work on. I feel awful that her reactivity could be something I’ve caused (or worsened?) by being stressed or anxious. This training is a huge lesson for me too 🙂

I so agree with you @Pleasehelpmehelpmydog . When we got our first dog we went to classes and it was definitely us who did the most learning. (We always had to stop and buy a bottle of wine on the way home!) Please do not be hard on yoursel. You are going through all the early stage settling processes that most people do with a dog. You are being a brilliant dog owner by spending so much time helping your girl be a the best dog she can be. Many people never bother.

Here's another idea. Allowing your dog to spend time with a 'seen it all, been there' older dog might help her understand what it is to be a dog and how to settle down and be calm. A role model if you like. Your dog might react a bit - but the other dog will completely ignore her excitability and your dog will give up pretty quickly and fall in step. Your trainer might be able to recommend someone you could pal up with for a few walks, coffees etc. Or perhaps just pick someone smiley with a bomb-proof looking dog in the park. That would really help. I used to walk mine with an ex-guide dog when she was brand new.

The really good news is that you will both get there and that this bit really is the tricky bit.

Thank you so much @BunnyBettChetwynnd. I’m trying to be kind to myself as well but it’s hard when I see what my nerviness has done to our poor girl. I’ve been doing lots of deep breathing this evening and either that or the window film or both has just led to her calmest evening in a really long time. She’s been happily snoozing for about two hours on and off, I think.

Do you think if she can really properly relax in her home, keeping the window film up and rewarding her settling herself and generally being as calm as we can (while getting on with normal life, obviously), will that help her to settle elsewhere too eventually? In my head, it makes sense that our work at home would be a good foundation for out and about (in time), where there are more distractions and unknowns for her.

Thank you all again. You’re all so kind and generous with your advice.

I think you’re doing really well & have had a lot of good advice. There are a couple of things that you might have missed though:

1. An early morning walk, make sure she’s getting out enough
2. Keeping the radio on as ‘white noise’

I would also suggest keeping a short diary of how she’s been & what the triggers were. And what preceded a settled time. It’s easy to miss/forget the small gains when you have a set back. Hopefully you’ll be able to reassure yourself that the ‘good’ days are getting more frequent.

Finally, she’s had 2 years of being barky, so she’s not going to suddenly stop overnight.

Thank you @Shelby2010, we normally go on a lunchtime and after work walk, so I’ll swap in an early morning one (and try out some of the gundog sniffy games on it) and see if that helps too. Radio as white noise is a good idea, we do generally have the radio on in the background and she’s definitely worse if we forget to put it on. Thank you 🙂