Behaviourist recommendations

[3AndADog]

Can anyone recommend a behaviourist that does online consultations and will be covered by health insurance (vet happy to refer, but there are none where we live.)

we have tried two in the past - one was a bit wishy washy and scatterfeed was her answer to everything. The other was games based and I had really high hopes but it just made our dog more edgy as she was constantly wanting to play the games and wouldn’t switch off. The behaviourist couldn’t get on board with the fact this just wasn’t working for our dog.

Any recommendations??

thanks

Nose to trail. She actually works for Napo as well as their behaviourist

What is the actual issue?

Scatter feeding & playing games sounds like you have a very active dog. Is he dog reactive? Can you let them off the lead?
Rescue or from pup?

The best results I have had with wayward dogs is regular training classes (agility, obedience, scent work,...) They learn to be around other dogs, focus on you, ... and so much more!

The issue is fear/reactivity. Not on walks a she’s a dream to walk on or off lead, 95% of the time. If we see a cat or one of the very very few small dogs she takes a disliking to she is reactive. The main issue is barking in the house with noises and visitors. She loves people out and about and she is extremely affectionate with those she loves. But when she thinks someone is coming to the door, or thinks she sees a cat in The garden, all hell breaks loose and when she is in a frenzy can’t then re settle. She is a very highly strung dog and struggles with life at home unless a long list of boxes are ticked - whole family home, no access to sounds in garden, no distant dog barking, no cars driving into neighbours drive etc etc

Is she a herding (collie type) or guarding breed or a cross of them?
Sounds like her instincts are taking over.

My best advice would be don't fight her instincts, but look for an acceptable outlet.

Also, maybe some basic obedience training with settle command could work.
I have a guarding/ utility breed. The ones that love guarding & barking, I acknowledge that yes, there is a cat in the garden, yes someone is walking past the gate... but I am not bothered by this.

I taught them by looking & investigating whatever they are alerting me to -staying calm all the time. I praise them, well done, good doggy... & have a tasty treat ready. Nowadays I get a little bark and I just stay put and tell them it's fine.

(My boy sometimes stands in the garden and barks in the hope of getting a treat!)

I don't really know enough about herding dogs and how to home in on this behaviour (when it's unwanted).

PS: it takes about 18 months to 2 years of training to get the dog you want.

She is a neurotic, no doubt badly bred, cockapoo. Shes on edge ALL the time.

I should have added that’s she’s on a cocktail of anxiety meds already but also suffers with IBD so no doubt there is an element of pain involved, we just feel that she is still trainable to some extent.

https://www.rplusdogs.com/

https://ameliasteele.com/

One of my friends has used amelia in person for similar barking at everyone/everything. Her advice was quite basic

😁 oh, I have one of them! I rescued her from a family with small kids.... not house trained nervous , neurotic (mini Poodle traits) bouncy, never stopped running around and ball obsessed (working Coker traits)... or there abouts!

Honestly, all she needs is a job!
Get that poodle brain working and that Spaniel energy burned off.
How old is she? Do you have time and some money for a new hobby?

I have successfully trained mine up for agility. She's ace, born for it! Everyone comments on how fast & agile she is....

Now the good thing is, mine has sort of calmed down, she can settle in the house and be calm if everything else is calm. Any hint of excitement and she's off! But I have accepted it as her being herself... ignorance goes a long way, I don't react and she settles a bit quicker each time.

The bad thing is, she's not a family dog. She does not like my DC (teens) or DH anymore. She was OK in the beginning.

She's attached to me, will only go out with me, will only eat food if I give it to her when I am at home. I sometimes go away overnight and she seems ok with the rest of the family then - apparently sleeping on my side of the bed (not allowed)!!
Obviously she's a working/ sports dog, so we are a team - ddog has just taken this to another unhealthy level. I just think she thrives on obsessions... I let her have the 'safe' ones.

You need to see yor dog as very high energy that is converted into anxiety.
So my advice, forget that your dog is a pet, it's a working dog that needs a job.
Training is good, but you might find that you'll be doing some sort of training or class for the rest of your dogs life.
You need to find something that suits both of you and I guarantee, you will have a lot of fun with your dog!

I'd drop the anxiety meds gradually once you have started training - probably about 6 months in, when you start seeing the consistent changes in her.

All dogs are different, but one thing I have learned over the years is that you need to work with their natural abilities and traits. Training it away or out, isn't always an option and often makes for an unhappy, frustrated dog.

PS: a picture of my little ball & speed junkie!

Can’t help you with a recommendation for someone

but - If you’ve not tried background noise, it’s made a big difference to my dog’s barking

I’d tried tv and radio before, but his specialist suggested trying things like, white, green, pink noise and we’ve ended up with yon cheap white noise machines people buy for babies playing rain noises

I think the plan is to phase it out when he responds to other stuff (medication etc) but I’m like, rain noise better than barky stressed dog so 🤷‍♀️🤣

Great advice from @Ylvamoon

OP you have 2 working breeds in your dog so he/she will need appropriate exercise, training, breed specific enrichment

Thanks for the helpful advice. This is how we started out with training her, lots of exercise and scent training etc. but both behaviourists we employed told us this is wrong, that a dog should be trained to be calm all day and have walk free days etc, with walk free periods of time to help decompress (eg 2 weeks at one point when her anxiety was super high). I must admit her walks are a dream but her barking at the world is much worse after a good long walk.

as for her being a family dog - she is, she loves me and my 3 kids and my parents, and tbh most of our friends too, once she gets to know them, but currently I can’t let the kids have their friends over as they are quite scared by her barking and lunging. Shes ok once they say hello, and can relax in their presence, after a lot of noise, but if they go upstairs/outside then reappear the aggression re starts. I say aggression because that’s what it looks like, but she’s never tried to bite anyone, she stops barking as soon as she has access to them,

@Ylvamoon no, I don’t really have time for a new hobby with three very active kids, all our dog walks are while kids are in various activities, she loves coming out and about with us and fitting into our busy schedule, it’s just in the house/garden that she loses it. Our dogs do sound v similar, she’s hyper attached to me and will only eat from me etc.

i worry with training classes etc that she’ll get over stimulated (something else I was told by behaviourist - that she can’t handle any form of excitement) and be a wreck for the rest of the day afterwards! This is what happened with the games based training plan we had, she just wanted it and the treats all day every day and never switched off

a dog should be trained to be calm all day and have walk free days etc, with walk free periods of time to help decompress
This would not help your dog, she has converted her penned up energy into anxiety. High energy dogs need an outlet in order to be calm.

her walks are a dream but her barking at the world is much worse after a good long walk
This could be the result of 2 different things: a) overstimulated as in to much or b) not enough to wear her out mentally.

It's hard to tell without seeing the dog in action.

I worry with training classes etc that she’ll get over stimulated (something else I was told by behaviourist - that she can’t handle any form of excitement
The beauty of training class is that it's almost the same format, dogs and place every week. Your dog will adapt to this over time. (I have a lead hooligan Tibetan, he's lovely and friendly with most dogs in his class even plays with 2, he's learned to ignore the ones he doesn't like - took about 5 months, because they tend to set each other off.. )

Shes ok once they say hello, and can relax in their presence, after a lot of noise, but if they go upstairs/outside then reappear the aggression re starts
She's bossy and controlling! That could be because she feels she needs to check everyone who's coming in for potential threats... in other words, YOU are not doing your job. Plus, the noisier & jumpier she is the quicker she’ll be able to say hallo - you are rewarding the behaviour.

Handle the situation by either sending her to her bed or even better, put her into another room. At the same time, teach her with the help of friends ect that if she's waiting in her bed, she gets a treat. Or ensure that all 4 paws are on the floor before opening the door.

(I had to teach mine to go bed, she'd be overexcited & weeing everywhere! She'll wait now like a little spring for me to tell her it's ok to say hallo/ 4 paws = basically 4 paws on the floor, no jumping)
Whatever you decide to do, stick to it religiously.

This is what happened with the games based training plan we had, she just wanted it and the treats all day every day and never switched off
Did you do the games at home? If yes, she is in a place where all the exiting stuff happens: she's ready to play- 24/7! (My dogs can't have toys in the house for that very reason, the cookerpoo just goes into overdrive!)
Find a quiet place away from home and play with her there... I live near a industrial estate, it's got some green space and is empty at weekends! Perfect for doggy fun games & a bit of agility training.

I don’t really have time for a new hobby
Please reconsider, take that 60-90 minutes each week and give your dog a purpose.
It could be a class that coincides with your DC's activity ...
Just contact your local dog club and find out what they have on offer...