I love my Ddog but I'm struggling. Quite alot, actually.

[SmotherhoodandApplePie]

He is 3. There's just him and me and I don't work so we're together alot of the time. I had him as a puppy and did alot of searching and researching before I went ahead. He is CKCS. We did puppy training both the Dogs Trust and I had a private trainer to help with all the usual puppy stuff.

Anyway, we had a lovely relationship which is now under stress because of his reactivity. It's really hard to manage (in fact I'm not managing in an emotional/psychological sense and to some extent physically).

The worst part is that every single morning for the past few weeks he wakes at about 6 ish and he is clearly on high alert.He used to have a cuddle and fuss and we would have some bonding time. But now I have to let him out because he becomes out of control reactive and body slams the patio doors whilst yelping and barking hysterically. And straining so hard on the lead to get out that I can hear the strain on his throat.
I have to grab his collar and lead and get it on him whilst holding him back as he is frantically trying to get away and outside. Once in the garden it's worse as at that point all the neighbours can hear him and probably see him dragging me around the perimeter of the garden and everywhere else in between. It's awful..I don't talk to him at this point because I've learned that it doesn't make any difference.

He calms down after a while but by this time I am so upset with him and myself and I'm sure he picks up on that. There is also literally no point in my trying to use distraction or treats - it simply doesn't work for a dog that is clearly in fight or flight.

So a while ago, a fox was hanging around and I get that this would be a trigger. I scatter coffee grounds in the garden every day as I heard foxes don't like them. Last night a neighbours cat was in the garden and all hell let loose.

Now he's also lunging at traffic when we are out on a walk - and to get to green space we have to walk by a road at least some of the time. I've done alot of training with him on that but I feel he is so anxious that he's never fully relaxed now. Once a day we also go in the car either to the beach or the woods so he can roam safely and do his thing.

I've booked a Vet appt next week because I don't know what to do. Ddog is not castrated but did have the implant for a while. Sorry for the long post. DD knows a vet nurse who said the Vet will probably advise a Behaviourist.

What’s your daily walking routine like? What kind of food is he getting?

Why does the dog need a lead on to walk around the garden?
The dog will be picking up on your anxiety also.
It’s good you’re seeing a vet as they can rule out any underlying health issues and they will have a behaviourist who could work with you. You could also ask for any recommendations on social media for a one to one dog trainer.

what happens if you just open the door and bung him in the garden?

Oh that sounds v difficult. I am not an expert by any means and this might not suit, but I use prevention, so close all curtains so dog can't see out. Also, have something really tough and high value to chew. My dog used to be a 'frustrated greeter' eg leaping around all over the place when a visitor came. I noticed she would also grab a toy and start chucking it about, so I guessed that she was attempting a displacement activity. I gave her a yak chew in her bed which she really has to concentrate on and that displaced and disrupted the frustration into a more rewarding activity. Eventually I got it so she goes straight to her bed when a visitor comes and I just give her a few treats.

If he is on a lead in the garden he is still fighting against you, so stress is ramped up?

He has his first meal - he has Forthglade wet food - when we get up.

I get myself ready and we go out around 9am for anything from 45 mins to and hour locally on lead for sniffy walk and meet with other dogs and owners doing same.

Afternoon it's the beach or woods for an hour not including car journey (about 10 minutes each way).

Evening the same as the morning, maybe a bit less time if he lets me know he's had enough.

If I give treats it would be a piece of apple or blueberries or the real meat treats in small pieces after we get home from a walk or if I'm going out and leaving him.

100% your vet will recommend a behaviourist assuming there is no physical cause but you’re taking the right step in ruling out any physical issues first. With a CKCS, there are some physical possibilities I’d (as a behaviourist) want checked in advance of taking on his case.

@PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister and @Walkingnice
because if I let him out without the lead he goes REALLY bonkers crashing around .

@champagnetrial Yes, all blinds closed now!

Also, just to say that right now we are in the lounge with the doors open and he is sleeping beside me. When I went outside to hang out some washing he was immediately with me and barking. So there's a link there.

But is your garden fully enclosed? If he can’t escape, I don’t see the need or point in having him on a lead. Just let him out to go bonkers and crash around? Surely that would be less stressful for you and him, and he’ll burn off some early morning energy?

That sounds really stressful for you OP. You're doing exactly the right thing by starting at the vet.

In the short term, just to make your life a bit easier, could you rather than take him to the garden in the morning take him out instead? Just throw on some clothes and go out the front door with him. I know it's early and I know it's a nuisance, but could a change of routine perhaps break the cycle of bark, lunge, back door, go bonkers?

Also, could you completely start again with the training you did when you first got your pup? Try to reset and reinforce all the stuff you did initially..sit, stay....the whole thing?

We do all that training at first and it is for us and the dog but sometimes a recap/reinforcing is a good reminder and keeps things on track.

Can’t he just go out for morning zoomies unleashed? Tearing around the garden after being inside all night is pretty usual for a young dog. My 13yo spaniel still has morning zoomies where she does frenzied laps of the garden, rolls about on the ground, just behaves like a maniac for about five minutes. I use the time to put the kettle on and start making my morning coffee!

Behaviourist is a good shout after a vet check.

@hugasaurus I did used to just let him out but at that time of the morning and making that much racket that all the neighbours can hear.......it's being 'that dog owner that has the nuiscance dog' that I don't want the neighbours to feel and nor do I like it myself!
I'll have a go at just letting him out on Monday morning and see what happens, the worst is that he'll just go mad and I'll have to wait until he wears himself out!

No advice as such but sending empathy as my little rescue dog is reactive and I’m always conscious if something sets her off in the garden though I can generally get her attention back on me fairly quickly these days and call her back in as she’s pretty treat orientated but if there’s a cat or she can hear another dog nearby it’s much harder and I agree it’s stressful as an owner!

It does sound like you have cats/ foxes or some nighttime visitors that have got her into a state of high alert snd she’s desperate to get out to them. Changing the morning routine for a while and taking her out of the front door instead as someone else suggested might be worth a try.

Our rescue was very much in high alert initially and barked at every single sound for the first few months. Even initially if a family member was in another room and every coming/ going. It was extremely stressful and frankly exhausting but we were advised to try and bring that stress level down by giving her things like kongs/ licky mats/ puzzle treats to help use her brain in a different way. Also we used calming collars, plug ins and calming treats! We had to try to keep calm, neutral voices so we weren’t giving the message that she was right to be stressed. None of it was a quick fix but alongside regular training she is a much calmer, happier dog these days though we still have our moments!

I also have a reactive CKCS so sending sympathy and empathy!!! Mine is now 6 so I can reassure you that it does get a bit better. Yours is very lucky and getting a lot of walking - perhaps he isover-stimulated generally and is on a bit of high note all the time. At that age I thought ours was really bored and needed more and more walking - I even explored agility classes - but it transpires he’s actually better with less stimulation, less walking, more quiet. I think CKCS are such habitual dogs and they can get quite obsessed. Perhaps in the morning you could break the habit by taking him out for 5-10 min on the road rather than repeat the same patterns in the garden so he breaks the habit in the garden but you can still respond to him. Breaking the habit is key for ours. Sending sympathy!

Why don’t you want to get him castrated? Surely that will calm him down. He’s probably very sexually frustrated

Ignore this advice OP.

if the unwanted behaviour is due to anxiety, it will likely get worse upon castration due to the drop in testosterone. Unless endorsed by both your vet and a behaviourist, this would be a suicidally bad idea.

Three hours of exercise for a companion breed sounds like a huge amount to me - I wonder if you’ve ever taught him to just “be” and to settle in the house without needing to go out and be exercised.

No off lead run around? No wonder he is climbing the walls mentally.

OP says he’s out every afternoon for an hour off the lead.

@texy well, it's interesting you mention CKCS and obsessiveness - I got into a habit of throwing dead leaves for him to chase whilst on walks in the wood and on the beach and now he gets all antsy if I don't do it, so that makes sense. He is not a dog who likes balls but a leaf that he can try and catch when it's floating above his head is game-on. He's definitely into routines and doesn't like change. Can be VERY stubborn on walks and will just sit down if he doesn't want to go a certain way.

However - thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. This morning he was awake and yapping at me so I decided to just let him into the garden and leave him to it and told myself what's the worst that can happen.

Not. A. Peep. A quick check of the perimeter and he was back at the door wanting in for his dinner. So whilst it might've been a fluke today I'm going to repeat tomorrow morning just to see what happens. Although I will still see the vet and get his thoughts, better to be safe and all that.

Get him a perfect fit harness instead of using the collar. It won’t strain his neck and you’ll have more control.

I hear you so much. I have CKCS, two years old now, and whilst I love him he has always been difficult and I regret getting him. He's a utter loon, obsessive, reactive over certain things (he goes mad when we cross roads for example), extremely needy, extremely hyper active etc. honestly he's been no end of problems. I live alone with mine too, which is really intense so I really feel for you.

My advice would be to keep trying different things and hope that you find a way that works better. For example, my dog always goes nuts when he realises it's time for a walk. As soon as I pick up my coat or shoes, he goes crazy. I discovered he likes butter on a lickimat. So now I put that out whilst I get ready and it keeps him busy. My dog also barks continuously and manically at roads and new places. I discovered he mostly barks at busy roads and when we stop to cross. Therefore I only walk him in places where there are quiet roads we can just walk across without stopping, and I also don't take him anywhere new. We are now both happier doing the same routes. Oh and he barks when approaching his favourite areas, so I make him stop and we walk backwards every time he starts to bark. This helps a bit and I like him to know that barking doesn't get him what he wants. He also barks manically when we arrive at a destination in the car. So now I wait until he's stopped barking, however long that takes (unless I'm in a rush).

I'm just trying to say, keep trying things and hopefully you will find little routines and ways of doing things that make things easier.

Good that you are getting a vet check done to find out any physical issues but working with a behaviouralist (possible in conjunction with some anxiety medication) is where you need to be looking to go.

Assuming there are no medical issues this is probably an unfortunate result of inbreeding. Our dog was always slightly more reactive than is typical for his breed but really deteriorated secondary to losing his hearing and sight in old age. Hardly surprising and not relevant to your dog except after discussion with the vet we started him on Fluoxetine. Well, it has totally chilled him out without zonking him - we are so delighted to have the dog we knew back with us. I would not hesitate to try your pooch on an SSRI if you can not find another solution. (PS We tried a Benzodiazepine first but it was too short acting. )