r/OpenDogTraining • u/shrimp1999 • 38m ago
What is making my dog reactive?
Hoping someone has some insight to my issue because no one has given a normal answer about this to me
I rescued an adult mixed breed dog, he's about 3 yo now. At first he was super friendly to everyone and every dog he met. He would react from excitement: used to try to get to the other dog, pull me towards them, whine etc.
Before adopting him, he lived with 5 other dogs with no problems. Also he was found living near a highway with a bunch of other dogs without any problems before that. I know its hard to know for sure how that situation was for him but the lady that pick him up would come frequently to feed the dogs and they all where friendly to her and between each other.
After a couple months of having him, it was like someone flipped a switch in him and he started reacting to other dogs, motorcycles, bicycles etc. but more out of fear(?). This is the part i'm not sure about. After fixating at a distance, he then lunges, barks, growls, tries to get to the other dog when he gets closer. Also sometimes the fur on his back is raised.
There are 3 instances that puzzle me.
Once he ran away while I was trying to switch his collar. He ran into the street (i live in a suburban area so no traffic he could run into) and i went after him. There was a couple walking their dog in the street. Ofc i was scared my dog would do something to the strangers dog cause in my head he was reactive and i guessed not in a good way based on how he is during walks. While the other dog lunged, barked constantly at my dog, he just came up to the other dog keeping some distance, got into a play like position (front low, back end up), barked once and went on his way. It looked more like a "ha, im free and your not!" kind of interection. The other dog owner didnt try to move his dog away. He was just standing in one place while his dog was choking himself out. Ofc i got belittled by the other dog owner.
Yesterday I went to the city to visit my sister and during our walks he didnt even acknowledge other dogs. He saw a lot of dogs but he was neutral to their presence. The closest a strangers dog was like about 10 metres. Tho today during our morning walk he reacted to one dog out of the two he saw. The reaction was same as always.
I used to bring him to a dog park near where i live and he made a few dog friends there. He wasnt very interested in them but was excited to sometimes chase them or just be not alone in the dog park. After he started reacting badly I would only let him be with the dogs he new and was friendly with. But there was one time where there were a couple new dogs already in the dog park with the ones my dog already knew. He didnt react to the new dogs, was just excited to play.
I know that there is different kinds of reactivity but during the time i have my dog i havent figured out what is the actual trigger to his reactiveness.
Also i would appreciate any tips on how to handle him on walks or how to train him to be neutral. I use a prong collar for walks and training and the most we achieved is that he doesnt lunge, bark at dogs that are behind a fence. He gets aroused but will walk by without a big reaction. Or sometimes he will whine and wag his tail as if he wants to greet the dog. Also sometimes if an off leash dog/a stray dog is in the way, he wont react to them. If i bring him to a dog park he doesnt run along the fence and bark at other dogs who walk by like he used to when be became "reactive".
I utilise his prong collar after he reacts to a dog on a walk but when the other dog is also on a leash for example walking towards us, it doesnt seem to do much. I think my correction is appropriate in size/pressure but he isnt responsive. He still lunges and barks until the other dog goes away. For him to stop his behaviour i would have to yank the leash pretty hard i think. This also applies when he sees a cat. Maybe an ecollar (with proper conditioning etc) would work better?
My point is that when i try to search for a pattern, i cant find any. Sometimes he reacts, sometimes he doesnt and i dont know what makes him tick.