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11 month old Golden Retriever Dog Reactivity
I am about at my wits end with my 11 month old neutered male Golden Retriever.
He is extremely dog reactive, but at least he gets along with the other dogs in my house.
I have been taking him out in public since he was a puppy and it’s as if a switch flipped. I can’t think of any specific event that would have caused him to react this way.
I have been working on desensitizing him. I’ve used “Leave It. You’re fine” and sometimes he DOES and IS. He is praised and rewarded with ear scratches and lots of love (he’s not a big treat eater) when he is able to control himself.
We have joined a local dock diving club and are working toward passing a test, but the reactivity needs to stop.
Please help!
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8 Replies
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Hey Ann – so sorry to hear you are struggling with your pup. It sounds like there’s a lot happening, and that’s a big dog! Can you give more information?
I may be imagining something different because of his breed… but I’ve seen frustration look a lot like reactivity and I’m wondering if it is possible he just really wants to get to the other dogs to make a friend? What happens if he gets to go over to them? Is he aggressive?
11mo olds are a lot of work, regardless of the breed… all the teen angst. If you could grab a video, it might help us help you.
Meanwhile, check out the training plan our community created awhile back… in it, you’ll find a bunch of ideas for working on barking while on leash.
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I haven’t allowed him to get close enough to see what happens because I truly don’t know what he will do! He shows his teeth and growls, so I’m not sure if he wants to play or not.
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@ann – tooth display and growling aren’t usually part of frustration, so you are likely on the right track with your interpretation. If you can get a video safely, please do.
Meanwhile, did you get a chance to look at that training plan? Were there any ideas that resonate for you?
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@catherine I clicked on the hyperlink that was posted but nothing happened ????????♀️. Could it be because I use my phone to access this page?
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It sure could be… the app can be a little buggy. Sorry about that. Please try using your phone’s browser, and just navigating to the page, not through the app, or use a desktop computer.
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Hi @ann , I too look forward to you sharing a bit more info about your GR. In the meantime, a couple of thoughts:
Have you tried fresh proteins, like bits of steak, roast chicken, low-salt ham (in moderation), cheddar cheese, etc? Sometimes the quality of the food makes an enormous difference.
Otherwise, controlling the distance between him and other dogs is critical — enough space is necessary so he can observe dogs without getting amped up. Then, praising, playing a favorite game, or giving him nice body scratches can be a great way to show him that every time he sees a dog, good things happen.
Right now, the dock diving setting may be just too much for him, because as he continues to rehearse the reactivity toward other dogs, the habit will grow. A friend of mine participates in this sport, and I recall her having private lessons at first — is that an option for you?
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Yes, I am able to work with him for dock diving without a ton of other dogs around. That is the plan going forward.
If I am able to get a video of his reactivity, I will post it.
It’s so much easier to work with clients’ dogs than my own! ????????♀️
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I understand that feeling, Ann. We’re emotionally invested in our own dogs!
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