New dog is dog aggressive/reactive

[sprite]

Our new dog is quite reactive towards other dogs-barking, spinning, lunging towards them when on leash or loose in (fenced) yard. She came from a rescue and because of health issues (now resolved) she was not able to be tested with other dogs. We did know that she had this tendency but nobody knew to what extent.

she is not totally unmanageable but can be quite ferocious although she seems to do better after seeing the same dogs several times-hardly even blinks at the yappy dogs along our walking routes anymore. Weve been just strongly correcting (not abusively though) and praising when she calms down or even better doesnt react to them at all. Imtooknher to the vet last week and she didnt look twice at the two little dogs in the waiting room so i think there is hope.

my main concern is introducing her to other extended family dogs when we go to visit. They are all agreeable types so if she gives them a chance it should be ok. Im womdering if anyone has suggestions on how best to introduce her to other dogs or any training tips/techniques. We will be going to obedience but im a little concerned that a class of other dogs would prove to be waaay too much at this point.

she is wonderful in every other way so im hoping we can get her pver this behavior. she is a 2 y/o german shorthair pointer.

[Jhein12]

Find a training facility in your area that can work with you on this problem and obedience. The place I go to has a class for reactive dogs. As for introducing to other dogs, I’ve found it is best if the other person can hold their dog in a way that your dog can sniff their dog without their dog’s face getting in your dogs face. Dogs don’t like being introduced face to face. It’s like someone pulling on your collar as an introduction.

[freshman]

I’d strongly recommend seeking training from a veterinary behaviorist or dog trainer with similar certifications…or at least a good dog trainer. It is so hard to know what to do/who to trust. And it can go sooooooo wrong.

If you must bring the new dog on out-of-town visits to places with other dogs in the household, please prepare and adjust your expectations —like acclimating your dog to a crate so that it can be safely confined during your travels, no matter what. Be ready with a plan to separate the dogs in the house with baby gates, doors, crates, whatever. Bring your own gates if necessary. Plan on it. Also, never leave your dog alone in the house or yard with the resident dogs, no matter how nicely they seem to get along. Don’t even consider this as an option. It can turn deadly in an instant.

Best of luck

[S1969]

@Jhein12

Find a training facility in your area that can work with you on this problem and obedience. The place I go to has a class for reactive dogs. As for introducing to other dogs, I’ve found it is best if the other person can hold their dog in a way that your dog can sniff their dog without their dog’s face getting in your dogs face. Dogs don’t like being introduced face to face. It’s like someone pulling on your collar as an introduction.

Agreed. My obedience instructor worked with dogs like this and had a specific training plans for introducing them to other dogs in classes, and then in other situations, and how to do so safely and with long-term success. This is not the type of dog you bring to a standard obedience class because she may not be ready, and it is unfair to the other dogs/handlers to have a dog lunging/barking at them while they are working.

Yes, there is hope, but there are some dogs that are simply not good with other dogs, children, cats, etc., and it’s important that you assume the worst until proven otherwise. I would definitely not make plans to integrate this dog with other dogs yet; and certainly would not leave them alone until you are sure a fight won’t happen.

How long have you had the dog?

[Marshfield]

There is a fine line on correcting the behavior. Yes, it’s unwanted, but you don’t want to remove any warnings. I agree with either a reactive dog class or working with a behaviorist. I’d also consider acclimating her to a basket muzzle for when she’s out in public

[sprite]

Weve only had her for 3 weeks. Looking for reactive-dog obedience trainer but we are somewhat rural so…

we dont have a timeline at all, she doesnt have to be around other dogs anytime soon ( like in the next year lol) but i would like for her to eventually be able to meet other dogs calmly… she IS crate trained and loves her crate so no issue there…

[Marla_100]

This same problem came up on that Sat. morning show by the Hispanic trainer Caesar (??). It was last Saturday, don’t know if you can get re-runs. He took the aggressive dog back to his dog ranch and spent a couple weeks working with him inside
a fenced area with about 20 other loose dogs. It was interesting to watch and the aggressive dog eventually came around and learned to accept the other dogs.

[Jumping31]

@Marla 100

This same problem came up on that Sat. morning show by the Hispanic trainer Caesar (??). It was last Saturday, don’t know if you can get re-runs. He took the aggressive dog back to his dog ranch and spent a couple weeks working with him inside
a fenced area with about 20 other loose dogs. It was interesting to watch and the aggressive dog eventually came around and learned to accept the other dogs.

I used to be a very avid believer in Cesar’s dog training methods more so because of how televised there are. However I don’t believe in his method as much anymore. There is a lot of controversy of his “dominance” method and more recently of animal abuse of pigs while trying to train a pig-killing dog.

Definitely talk to your vet and look for a good dog trainer. If they don’t have a class that would work, then a private lesson setting would be best for your dog it seems.

[PDDT]

Here are some good online resources from a very well respected trainer that uses positive re-inforcement methods.

I have a rescue dog who is also reactive to other dogs. I read somewhere that the rescue dogs are afraid another dog will take their good new home. Not sure if that is true… it feels like it is an idea to make the rescuer feel better.

We live in an apartment condo and all the dogs think they own the building. Left together the dogs in this building who have quite a fight. We have been working with our girl so that she is less reactive - basically giving her alternative behaviour. On the leash she must sit when she sees another dog - I have noticed this works until the other dog is within a certain distance of her - so I am now being careful to not allow her to get within that space.

We take her to an off leash park so that she has some freedom time - she is great with the other dogs and actually quite timid!

Here is that link: https://drsophiayin.com/resources/dog_behavior/#reactivity

[Incantation]

Definitely look for a behaviorist trainer. Reactivity can have multiple causes - fear, frustration etc. Also, be careful about punishing a dog for reactivity. It can make them way worse.

I was watching a video, but I can’t remember the trainer atm. He paired food with the sight, sound and scent of other dogs. He would walk the reactive dog and encourage the dog to sniff where other dogs had marked, then treat. if they heard another dog - tags jingling, barking, whatever, he would treat. He kept the dog far enough away from other dogs that it didn’t react, and treated. Basically trying to rewire the brain to see other dogs as a positive thing.

[chancellor2]

Our dog Sherman is dog-dog aggressive. Sometimes, he is just fine with other dogs. Other times, he will become very very aggressive.
We took him to an animal behaviorist at Angell Memorial in Boston. She diagnosed him with fear based aggression and doing things like reprimanding him when he got aggressive was NOT helping.
We are working with this behaviorist with a similar idea to what Incantation is talking about. He is much much better. But can still be aggressive if left to his own devices.
He is no longer allowed off leash even when we are right there with him. And, if he goes out for walks, he wears a muzzle. Better safe than sorry.
PLEASE don’t do anything that Cesar Milan does with dogs. Unless and until you know what is causing the aggression, his methods could be doing more harm than good. Those shows are for entertainment purposes only. Much of what he does can cause irreparable damage.

[sprite]

Good news, we found a reactive-dog trainer and go for an eval next weekend. Fingers crossed!

[sprite]

Well,we had our evaluation yesterday amd she actually did great! No signs of aggression and was perfectly behaved with another dog in the room- barely even looked at her. So we were sent home with some things to work on and to go back in a couple of weeks and see if she can handle a few more dogs around. Trainer thinks she was basically just poorly socialized and doesnt know how to behave properly around other dogs so we will be working on that.

[S1969]

@sprite

Well,we had our evaluation yesterday amd she actually did great! No signs of aggression and was perfectly behaved with another dog in the room- barely even looked at her. So we were sent home with some things to work on and to go back in a couple of weeks and see if she can handle a few more dogs around. Trainer thinks she was basically just poorly socialized and doesnt know how to behave properly around other dogs so we will be working on that.

That’s good news! There is hope!

Make a list of questions for your trainer - one good one is if they could recommend an obedience class/trainer that you can work with on a regular basis. I know that when I am working “alone” for a couple of weeks I slack off, so having a regular scheduled class to prepare for helps me make sure I do my homework with my dog.

Or does this trainer do “regular” obedience as well? Just thinking for the future - all trainers are not the same, and finding one that suits your dogs needs better would be good for all of you.

[Foxtrot_s]

I belong to an informal dog group and we go on group walks incorporating all the standard exercises, like the weave, heel right, walking in a ball of dogs, stay, recall, etc. When a dog is aggressive to another, it is usually Pebbes who is volunteered to go and meet them because as a Boxer (true to her breed) she is so friendly and does not emit any threatening or aggressive behaviour.

Those who leap at another dog or show aggression, whether from fear or not, are put into a lay position until they relax. I got leapt at because I accidentally crossed eye contact with a blue-eyed Aussie shepherd. Most of the dogs are rescues and need some help of some kind. Some have never learned doggie introductions and so will not sniff or be sniffed at, and cringe when someone’s snout goes up their backside. Mostly they get over it if the owners are regulars.

I like the group because of the dedication the owners have to their dogs and their willingness to work with them.

There are also trainers that use treat based training and those who do not. I prefer to keep the treats for when she needs an extreme incentive, like recall when there are so m any fun distractions out there. Find one who is a good fit for YOU
and your dog.

One barn friend takes her quite nice dog to an obedience trainer who is very severe and she is not happy with the way her dog is trained and may soon quite… I’mvnot qualified to judge what is right or wrong - I just know what I do, and it fits with me and my dog.

[sprite]

Yes, i was so relieved, lol. She was completely unconcerned with the other dog being there. Trainer does regular obedience also as well as agility so we will be attending regular classes eventually. I think the dog would LOVE to do agility so that is our ultimate goal…

[BEARCAT]

Check out the CARE website for reactive dogs.
http://careforreactivedogs.com/

[sprite]

@BEARCAT

Check out the CARE website for reactive dogs.
http://careforreactivedogs.com/

thanks!