Working on dog reactivity

Shaina · 10-24-2011, 01:16 PM

I got word today that my 7 1/2 month old will be starting her agility class next Monday, which I am VERY excited for! I do have an issue though - Versailles initial introduction to a dog (or a group of dogs she sees) is to become very vocal, she whines, barks, hackles up, etc. Once she meets the other dog she is fine, but that initial reaction is pretty nasty looking and I don't want to get thrown out of class based on her first impression! I have a week to REALLY work on this, and I'm going to be taking her out every day and trying to do what I can. I know I can do "look at me", but I was looking for other ideas and games to really put it in her head that, yes, that is another dog, you don't need to go bonkers and act like you're going to eat them. This is so far the only huge hurtle with her I've faced in training and it is the most difficult to manage, in my opinion. Her obedience is already killer, she will still sit, fuss, etc, but as soon as she is released she goes nuts again and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Any tips would be appreciated! (She has been socialized like crazy and does go to daycare, dog parks, petsmart, etc and does very well with the other dogs once she settles down).

Help!

**MaggieRoseLee** · 10-24-2011, 06:55 PM

Just being overly excited may not be too much of an issue. I'd definitely talk to the instructor about your concerns. Off hand I'd recommend she get some good exercise that day (not too much though

) and come early early to class so she has time to adjust.

Shaina · 10-24-2011, 07:55 PM

no amount of exercise wears this monster out so thats definitely an option. The excitement isnt what concerns me as much as her being viewed as aggressive to the other members when shes not. Taking her early is actually a great idea, Ill do that. I was also thinking about bringing her ball and totally getting her attatched to me once we get out of the car?

Gracie's My Girl · 10-24-2011, 08:27 PM

I have the same issue. Gracie is great with dogs once they have greeted each other...but she does not like the initial sighting. I am honest with people when she comes across as a bad dog. I let them now that she is good with other dogs, but she is nervous at first. I've found that people are very understanding. I can't imagine that anyone in your class would have a problem with your dog as long as she isn't really dog aggressive and you are working with her.

PaddyD · 10-24-2011, 09:12 PM

It sounds like fear aggression because she is OK once she sees that the other dog(s) is/are OK. Good idea to get her there early and introduce to each dog as they come in so that they are all friends when class starts.

Shaina · 10-24-2011, 09:42 PM

she isnt afraid at all, Id say its more leaking drives, as its the same lunging/barking when we are playing with the ball or leaving the lake where she just cant get to the other dog fast enough. ive seen a small amount of fear aggression from her with weird objects and it is a totally different disposition she has. with females her own age or around such she will try to immediately pin them which obviously I am not ok with but assuming the dog doesnt fight back they quickly become best friends, if they try to pin her back she settles down like shes pretty offended that she lost that role. its never escalated to any fights or true aggression and is something ive really been getting on her for as shes gotten bigger.

sharkey19 · 10-24-2011, 09:45 PM

I had the same issue with Dax. He was just overly friendly and wanted to go play with the other dogs. I think he did it more out of frustration of not getting to do that. He improved a lot after a few classes. Of course those first few classes were quite embarrassing with him barking at the other dogs and whining, but the instructors were great and it got better

Shaina · 10-24-2011, 09:52 PM

Id say the barking is absolutely frustration, which would also explain the immediate pounce once she FINALLY gets to go see the other dog. Once I get her focus on the schutzhund field she doesnt care about other dogs, but I wasnt as concerned going in as my club is full of people Ive know for years... the agility class will be totally new for both of us so Im a bit nervous

onyx'girl · 10-24-2011, 09:56 PM

Shaina, do you have the book Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt?
http://controlunleashed.net/book.html
It has exercises for teaching a dog to control their exuberance and focus on the handler or task that is asked of them.

sharkey19 · 10-24-2011, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

Shaina, do you have the book Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt?
Leslie McDevitt: Control Unleashed®, The Book
It has exercises for teaching a dog to control their exuberance and focus on the handler or task that is asked of them.

Have you read that? Does it have options for dogs that are totally un-food motivated?

10-24-2011, 01:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Shaina Master Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 753	Working on dog reactivity I got word today that my 7 1/2 month old will be starting her agility class next Monday, which I am VERY excited for! I do have an issue though - Versailles initial introduction to a dog (or a group of dogs she sees) is to become very vocal, she whines, barks, hackles up, etc. Once she meets the other dog she is fine, but that initial reaction is pretty nasty looking and I don't want to get thrown out of class based on her first impression! I have a week to REALLY work on this, and I'm going to be taking her out every day and trying to do what I can. I know I can do "look at me", but I was looking for other ideas and games to really put it in her head that, yes, that is another dog, you don't need to go bonkers and act like you're going to eat them. This is so far the only huge hurtle with her I've faced in training and it is the most difficult to manage, in my opinion. Her obedience is already killer, she will still sit, fuss, etc, but as soon as she is released she goes nuts again and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Any tips would be appreciated! (She has been socialized like crazy and does go to daycare, dog parks, petsmart, etc and does very well with the other dogs once she settles down). Help! __________________ "In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland

10-24-2011, 06:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,215	Just being overly excited may not be too much of an issue. I'd definitely talk to the instructor about your concerns. Off hand I'd recommend she get some good exercise that day (not too much though ) and come early early to class so she has time to adjust. __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

10-24-2011, 07:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shaina Master Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 753	no amount of exercise wears this monster out so thats definitely an option. The excitement isnt what concerns me as much as her being viewed as aggressive to the other members when shes not. Taking her early is actually a great idea, Ill do that. I was also thinking about bringing her ball and totally getting her attatched to me once we get out of the car? __________________ "In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland

10-24-2011, 09:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Shaina Master Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 753	she isnt afraid at all, Id say its more leaking drives, as its the same lunging/barking when we are playing with the ball or leaving the lake where she just cant get to the other dog fast enough. ive seen a small amount of fear aggression from her with weird objects and it is a totally different disposition she has. with females her own age or around such she will try to immediately pin them which obviously I am not ok with but assuming the dog doesnt fight back they quickly become best friends, if they try to pin her back she settles down like shes pretty offended that she lost that role. its never escalated to any fights or true aggression and is something ive really been getting on her for as shes gotten bigger. __________________ "In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland

10-24-2011, 09:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
Shaina Master Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 753	Id say the barking is absolutely frustration, which would also explain the immediate pounce once she FINALLY gets to go see the other dog. Once I get her focus on the schutzhund field she doesnt care about other dogs, but I wasnt as concerned going in as my club is full of people Ive know for years... the agility class will be totally new for both of us so Im a bit nervous __________________ "In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland

10-24-2011, 08:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gracie's My Girl Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 330	I have the same issue. Gracie is great with dogs once they have greeted each other...but she does not like the initial sighting. I am honest with people when she comes across as a bad dog. I let them now that she is good with other dogs, but she is nervous at first. I've found that people are very understanding. I can't imagine that anyone in your class would have a problem with your dog as long as she isn't really dog aggressive and you are working with her.

10-24-2011, 09:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	It sounds like fear aggression because she is OK once she sees that the other dog(s) is/are OK. Good idea to get her there early and introduce to each dog as they come in so that they are all friends when class starts.

10-24-2011, 09:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
sharkey19 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Guelph Posts: 321	I had the same issue with Dax. He was just overly friendly and wanted to go play with the other dogs. I think he did it more out of frustration of not getting to do that. He improved a lot after a few classes. Of course those first few classes were quite embarrassing with him barking at the other dogs and whining, but the instructors were great and it got better

10-24-2011, 09:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	Shaina, do you have the book Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt? http://controlunleashed.net/book.html It has exercises for teaching a dog to control their exuberance and focus on the handler or task that is asked of them.

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