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Dog suddenly no longer reactive?

15 replies

CornishPorsche · 24/04/2024 19:17

Well, she is a bit reactive still (it's on lead reactivity, she doesn't usually discriminate against any particular breed or size of dog, she's an equal opportunity hater)...

But she's suddenly stopped reacting to all dogs and now it's about 1:7 or even 1:15 (today!). It all started on one walk about 3 weeks ago where she ignored one of her arch nemesis, a large bulldog, when it was walking past us on the other side of the street. Most unusual, I thought it was a lucky hit.

But it's decreasing all the time, and today I've walked her through a couple of fields with loads and loads of dogs and she barely looked twice at any of them! We passed a huge red setter, a couple of alsations, three crosses including a sighthound mix (she loathes greyhounds despite being part greyhound herself), a herd of tiny yappy doodle crosses, a jack russell.... The list goes on and not even a huff let alone a bark or turning into a kite on her lead.

Now, on the one hand I'm delighted - we've spent years working with multiple trainers, different collars, harnesses, leads, treats, various techniques and all have failed.

But should I be worried? It's a big change in behaviour.

She's 8 years old, spayed, on long term metacam for arthritis. No changes in other behaviour, eating normally, playing and interacting normally, and is a dope. Nothing has changed in the house etc.

Dog tax photo obv.

OP posts:
CornishPorsche · 24/04/2024 20:42

Bumping in case of any opinions!

OP posts:
Lovemusic82 · 24/04/2024 20:48

Could it be her eye sight? Maybe she didn’t really spot the bulldog on the other side of the road?

Maybe she’s just reached that point in her life that we all reach when we decide we are going to stop letting others bother us? 🤣

carerlookingtochangejob · 24/04/2024 20:48

How long have you had her? From pup?

I would take the win and not overthink it too much unless you have other cause to be concerned?
Sometimes I think it's a case of everything coming together and the trust finally being consolidated enough in every situation to let them relax and not have the reaction.

Tel12 · 24/04/2024 20:48

My dog was reactive for a while but I clicker trained her out of it. Only took a couple of days. Maybe your dog has decided that she's done with it? Assuming that she's eating and acting normally otherwise?

LoveIsleOfWight · 24/04/2024 20:48

Could be any number of reasons,
I had a reactive dog growing up and he seemed to grow out of it in old age like it wasn't worth the hassle

It may have all finally clicked in place for her that she dosent need to react

FastFood · 24/04/2024 20:53

Love that you're protecting her modesty 😂
Top of my mind, I'd suggest a combination of:

  • an improvement on her arthritis pain, due to Metacam, and maybe she has lost a bit of weight?
  • her own initial improvements with reactivity that made you less worried and more relaxed
  • she's getting mature and doesn't have time anymore for that
  • weather is a bit better, that makes you both more relaxed.
  • your training is kicking in, and something has finally clicked in her doggybrain

That could also be that she's losing her sight / hearing a bit, and that it makes her environement less triggering.

neilyoungismyhero · 24/04/2024 21:02

My German Shepherd stayed reactive his whole life. He never improved even the morning I took him for his last vet trip and he was really poorly he was still kicking off at the other dogs bless him.
Pleased for you, take the win.

CornishPorsche · 24/04/2024 21:11

I've wondered before if her eyesight was crap and whether that's why she's reactive! She's definitely seeing the dogs, but is doing what we want her to do by glancing then moving along with her own activities (I encourage slow and sniffy walks interspersed with trots). She's not fixating on them like she usually does - for that, she goes totally rigid, hackles up, tail down, ears up, locked on visually. Huge change in the body language.

Since I posted, she's seen the neighbours Frenchie walking past when I took her out for a pee and she growled at him from three doors away, but no barking and although she was staring she wasn't fixated.

We've had her since 9 months old, so most of her life. She was wonderfully social until she was about 4 (pre-Covid) and we didn't realise what was happening and let it get worse, so that's all on us. She adores humans, especially kids but I'm always worried about a dog appearing unexpectedly and her going ballistic.

Clicker training failed unfortunately - with most techniques the problem was she was already over the threshold before we intervened. Even the trainers weren't quick enough!

Maybe she has indeed hit middle age and decided she's had enough. I know I have and it's very freeing 😁

And yes to the modesty - no one needs to see that winking at them.

OP posts:
Dareisayiseethesunshine · 24/04/2024 21:16

Similar pic op.....

Dog suddenly no longer reactive?
CornishPorsche · 24/04/2024 21:20

@Dareisayiseethesunshine ah, a husky! This one has one parent of husky / malamute cross and other of collie / greyhound.

I get all the moulting, plus a speedy couch potato with brains and all the attitude 🙄. She alps likes to sing the songs of her people if she's alone.

At least they are both comfortable and if they are showing their bellies they feel safe, so we're doing something right!

OP posts:
Dareisayiseethesunshine · 24/04/2024 21:27

She used to do it at the vet until cancer surgery 2 years ago. Now she sits on my bloody knees waiting to go in...
She is the quietest husky I have ever known.

abracadabra1980 · 24/04/2024 21:34

She's beautiful-I'd take the win but would be really interested to see what a vet or behaviourist makes of it - if any read the thread.

YeahComeOnThen · 24/04/2024 21:42

I'd just take the win & assume any of the above fixes!

long may it last!!

EatCrow · 27/04/2024 11:48

Here for the photo ❤️

photoS - plural!

CornishPorsche · 08/01/2025 10:28

So we're back to wanting to murder every dog we see on a walk... Yesterday was particularly appalling, with her kicking off at a dog she couldn't even see (behind a 5ft wall) which is a new one.

Anyone had any joy with this? She goes from zero, sniffy and relaxed to murderous in a split second...

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