very dog reactive

MsMailbawx · 02-07-2012, 06:03 PM

Hello again.
Ryker is VERY afraid of other dogs, especially bigger ones. If we go on walks he will try to lung/bark/growl/whine etc. It has gotten better with work. I try to make him see the dog at a distance then reward him. As they come closer I ask him so sit and pet him saying "good boy, quite" he has been ALOT better with this technique, but still will bark every now and then. People think he's viscous. :/ which couldn't be further from the truth he LOVES people...just not there dogs. He's been socialized since day 1 and is better around small dogs it seems. He's also not a fan of cats, and I shudder thinking about what he would do to one. Luckily, I don't have a cat but I'm going up to NY this week to a friend that does have 2 elderly cats and I have to bring Ryker with me. So all in all, am I doing the right thing when handling his reactiveness towards other dogs? And what approach should I take towards cats? Thanks everyone. You have all been life savers these past couple weeks

he is in puppy classes BTW, and I have discussed this with the trainer. She is going to set up a sort of doggy play date for ryker to help him out with his fear

Courtney · 02-07-2012, 06:06 PM

How old is Ryker?

MsMailbawx · 02-07-2012, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Courtney

How old is Ryker?

14 weeks

wildrivers · 02-07-2012, 07:34 PM

Your puppy is a baby still and will be for the first year, then adolesence ect. It needs a extremly slow introduction to friendly- balanced dogs with a trainer in sight. I do not let my pup go to dog parks nor do I let strange dogs approach her. Too many humans tell me their dog is friendly, it is ok ect ect. B.S. Adult dogs react to puppies differently then normal. Use your trainer. Dont be in a hurry for your pup to meet other dogs. It will happen in time. Build a bond with your pup now, engage and engage more. My pup was afraid of dog barks from age 2 months to 4 months. I worked with a trainer. You also have to be her trainer even when a trainer is there. I have been to "puppy socials" and had attendents there and trainers. I still had to jump in now again to help get a dominant puppy or aggressive pack off my pup. Go slow, go slow and go slow. Small steps. It will be worth all the time and work. I highly suggest a behavioral type trainer who uses only positive type of training, clicker or marker training.

wildrivers · 02-07-2012, 07:36 PM

Also read or better yet get an audio book called getting a puppy/before and after by Ian Dunbar. I dont agree with everything he says but I agree with 80% of it.

MsMailbawx · 02-07-2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildrivers

Also read or better yet get an audio book called getting a puppy/before and after by Ian Dunbar. I dont agree with everything he says but I agree with 80% of it.

Thanks so much

my trainer is bringing in a golden who is bomb proof, who has been through many many many classes with her. So I'm sure all will go well. I'm just worried about how agressive he is on a leash and how when he's 95 pounds he's gonna pull me and get himself into trouble.

Courtney · 02-07-2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildrivers

Your puppy is a baby still and will be for the first year, then adolesence ect. It needs a extremly slow introduction to friendly- balanced dogs with a trainer in sight. I do not let my pup go to dog parks nor do I let strange dogs approach her. Too many humans tell me their dog is friendly, it is ok ect ect. B.S. Adult dogs react to puppies differently then normal. Use your trainer. Dont be in a hurry for your pup to meet other dogs. It will happen in time. Build a bond with your pup now, engage and engage more. My pup was afraid of dog barks from age 2 months to 4 months. I worked with a trainer. You also have to be her trainer even when a trainer is there. I have been to "puppy socials" and had attendents there and trainers. I still had to jump in now again to help get a dominant puppy or aggressive pack off my pup. Go slow, go slow and go slow. Small steps. It will be worth all the time and work. I highly suggest a behavioral type trainer who uses only positive type of training, clicker or marker training.

Good post!

sashadog · 02-07-2012, 09:48 PM

How elderly are your friends cats?? Can they stand up for themselves against a puppy?? I would make sure that you are in constant control of the situation while at your friends house. What exactly is his reaction to cats? Almost any dog would love to chase one if it ran but that doesn't mean a 14 week old puppy would kill one...

MsMailbawx · 02-07-2012, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sashadog

How elderly are your friends cats?? Can they stand up for themselves against a puppy?? I would make sure that you are in constant control of the situation while at your friends house. What exactly is his reaction to cats? Almost any dog would love to chase one if it ran but that doesn't mean a 14 week old puppy would kill one...

They are very dog friendly cats so I'm sure they wouldn't do anything unless they absolutely had to. Ryker just gets very fixated on things and we don't have cats so I'm just worried that he would hurt one. We have a cat at work that he has seen and he barked and barked and tried to get to him.

sashadog · 02-07-2012, 11:21 PM

Hopefully some more experienced people will chime in about helping with the cat thing... My cats have always kept my dogs in line and we got Sasha at 2 years old and I know she would kill a cat so I don't risk it. I would imagine with a young puppy though you still have the opportunity to shape their behavior with the kitties. I would keep a leash on him for sure and make sure you set the boundaries with the cats. If you can't monitor him on leash, crate him. Don't even give him an opportunity to develop bad habits, but I guess that goes for everything with pups

02-07-2012, 06:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
MsMailbawx Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 43	very dog reactive Hello again. Ryker is VERY afraid of other dogs, especially bigger ones. If we go on walks he will try to lung/bark/growl/whine etc. It has gotten better with work. I try to make him see the dog at a distance then reward him. As they come closer I ask him so sit and pet him saying "good boy, quite" he has been ALOT better with this technique, but still will bark every now and then. People think he's viscous. :/ which couldn't be further from the truth he LOVES people...just not there dogs. He's been socialized since day 1 and is better around small dogs it seems. He's also not a fan of cats, and I shudder thinking about what he would do to one. Luckily, I don't have a cat but I'm going up to NY this week to a friend that does have 2 elderly cats and I have to bring Ryker with me. So all in all, am I doing the right thing when handling his reactiveness towards other dogs? And what approach should I take towards cats? Thanks everyone. You have all been life savers these past couple weeks he is in puppy classes BTW, and I have discussed this with the trainer. She is going to set up a sort of doggy play date for ryker to help him out with his fear

02-07-2012, 06:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Courtney Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,922	How old is Ryker?

02-07-2012, 07:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
wildrivers Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Top of Cali Posts: 64	Your puppy is a baby still and will be for the first year, then adolesence ect. It needs a extremly slow introduction to friendly- balanced dogs with a trainer in sight. I do not let my pup go to dog parks nor do I let strange dogs approach her. Too many humans tell me their dog is friendly, it is ok ect ect. B.S. Adult dogs react to puppies differently then normal. Use your trainer. Dont be in a hurry for your pup to meet other dogs. It will happen in time. Build a bond with your pup now, engage and engage more. My pup was afraid of dog barks from age 2 months to 4 months. I worked with a trainer. You also have to be her trainer even when a trainer is there. I have been to "puppy socials" and had attendents there and trainers. I still had to jump in now again to help get a dominant puppy or aggressive pack off my pup. Go slow, go slow and go slow. Small steps. It will be worth all the time and work. I highly suggest a behavioral type trainer who uses only positive type of training, clicker or marker training.

02-07-2012, 07:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
wildrivers Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Top of Cali Posts: 64	Also read or better yet get an audio book called getting a puppy/before and after by Ian Dunbar. I dont agree with everything he says but I agree with 80% of it.

02-07-2012, 09:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
sashadog Master Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 570	How elderly are your friends cats?? Can they stand up for themselves against a puppy?? I would make sure that you are in constant control of the situation while at your friends house. What exactly is his reaction to cats? Almost any dog would love to chase one if it ran but that doesn't mean a 14 week old puppy would kill one...

02-07-2012, 11:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
sashadog Master Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 570	Hopefully some more experienced people will chime in about helping with the cat thing... My cats have always kept my dogs in line and we got Sasha at 2 years old and I know she would kill a cat so I don't risk it. I would imagine with a young puppy though you still have the opportunity to shape their behavior with the kitties. I would keep a leash on him for sure and make sure you set the boundaries with the cats. If you can't monitor him on leash, crate him. Don't even give him an opportunity to develop bad habits, but I guess that goes for everything with pups

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